TRANMERE ROVERS.....................1

BRISTOL ROVERS..........................0

(Att: 3,559)

MICKY Adams said it was a "huge relief" to get his first win as Tranmere manager after watching his team beat Conference club Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup first round at Prenton Park.

Tranmere were reduced to ten men after George Donnelly was shown a straight red, but held on to their one-goal advantage to avoid a Cup upset and record their first victory since the end of August.

Adams made four changes to the starting line-up which began last Saturday's 2-2 draw against Stevenage.

In came Liam Ridehalgh, George Donnelly, Eliot Richards and Josh Thompson with Danny Holmes, Kayode Odejayi and Danny Johnson dropping down to the bench.

Armand Gnanduillet was missing after parent club Chesterfield denied permission for the striker to play.

For Bristol Rovers, former Tranmere defender Mark McChrystal and striker Ryan Brunt, who had a loan spell with Tranmere, were both included in the starting line-up.

The hosts went ahead from the spot on 52 minutes after McChrystal handled the ball in his area.

Max Power stepped up and fired home, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Ten minutes later, Tranmere were reduced to ten when Donnelly reacted angrily to a challenge from Tom Parker and kicked out at the defender off the ball.

He was given his marching orders and must now face a three-match ban.

On 77 minutes, Bristol Rovers substitute Ellis Harrison hit a low effort from the edge of the penalty area which fon Williams did well to save.

In the final minute of injury time, Bristol won a corner which was only half-cleared with Eric Harrison firing the ball goalwards only for Marc Laird to make a clearance off the line, ensuring Tranmere go into the hat for round two.

Micky Adams said: "It's a huge relief for everybody. It ebbs away the confidence and the belief of the players as they've been on a poor run in terms of victories, so it's a welcome win.

"The important thing is we're in the hat. More than anything it means so much to the players and supporters that we've had a win.

"We weren't fluent at times but we tried to do the right things at the right times and to win games of football you've got to do that.

"We're disappointed with the sending off, I think that could have been avoided.

"The lad has pushed him into the boards and as we know that is very dangerous. He has reacted and he shouldn't have. He knows that and he'll be disciplined internally.

"We put ourselves under pressure but the ten men who were out there put their bodies on the line and that's what you've got to do in cup football. They had nothing to lose and put bodies in our box and we defended stoutly at times.

"The final third is still a problem for me. I don't believe we get enough quality into the box and I certainly don't believe we flood the box like we should.

"Maybe that's a bit of nervousness that we're perhaps afraid to miss. But if you're ever going to win football games you've got to take that out of your system and really go for it."

The manager intends to ring the changes on Tuesday evening when Tranmere travel to face League Two fourth-placed side Bury in the Johnstone's Trophy: "I will pick a team I haven't seen so far.

"I've said to them that by the end of next week I would really like to know all of you and have seen you play in a first team shirt.

"We're on a four-game unbeaten run and we want to continue that.

"I'm not saying we've turned the corner because we're not the finished article by any means."

Tranmere will discover who they'll face in the second round when the draw takes place on Monday night.

The draw will be broadcast live on BBC2 at 7pm, with Rovers joining the rest of League One, League Two and non-league sides aiming for a place in the third round.