NORTHAMPTON TOWN............1
TRANMERE ROVERS....................0

(Att:4,428)

Tranmere Rovers' campaign for Football League survival has not been helped by a fifth successive defeat.

A second-half winner by Ryan Cresswell gave play-off chasing Northampton Town the victory, leaving Rovers two points adrift from safety in the relegation places.

Lawson D'Ath hit the bar for the Cobblers before Cresswell headed wide from Darren Carter's corner.

But the centre-half got his name on the scoresheet when he headed home Carter's free-kick.

Tranmere went close late-on when Janoi Donacien's header was superbly saved by Matt Duke.

Rovers remained in the bottom two as Northampton moved three points away from the play-offs.

Manager Micky Adams made four changes to the starting line-up from last weekend with Michael Ihiekwe, Liam Ridehalgh, Dan Gardner and Kayode Odejayi coming in to replace Adam Dugdale, Rory Donnelly, Jason Koumas and Jordan Hugill.

The home side named former Rovers left-back Evan Horwood in their starting 11 against his former club.

Adams said: "We should do better defending [the free kick]. We didn't and got punished, and that was the difference between the two teams - one free kick.

"I thought we defended better, we were more resolute and had a better shape in terms of the back four.

"Liam Ridehalgh came in and did well and allowed us to push Rob Taylor further forward into his preferred position.

"We are no worse off than we were at the start of the game, that's the good thing.

"I've seen signs there today which have encouraged me."

Ten games now remain until the end of the season and Rovers will travel to face 16th-placed Cambridge Utd on Tuesday.