Southport............2

Tranmere............2

ROVERS manager Gary Brabin said poor defending was responsible for his team conceding twice in the first half of a thrilling derby at Southport.

The Tuesday night clash was the first time Southport and Tranmere had met in a league fixture since January 1976, when they played out a goalless draw in the old Fourth Division.

Goals from Jay Harris and James Norwood saw Rovers come from behind to earn a point against a ten-man Sandgrounders Gary Jones put the hosts ahead when he fired home from the edge of the area.

Loanee Mike Phenix doubled the lead five minutes later with a neat turn and finish before Andy Mangan's free-kick crashed onto the crossbar for Rovers.

Harris tapped in for 2-1 and Norwood powered home from 12 yards before Luke Foster saw red for a foul on Marlon Jackson 26 minutes from time.

Brabin said: "On the whole I was unhappy at the way we defended. I thought we played some good football but the two goals we conceded were criminal.

"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb but we responded well by getting an early goal in the second half, then the second and we thought we were going to go on and get the third.

"I thought we dominated the possession in the first half but we were poor in our box and poor in theirs. In the second half, we really threatened their goal and looked a good attacking force.

"We are trying to play good football and I think, with the players we have got, we are good enough to defend better than we have done, but tonight for 95 minutes we haven't defended well.

"We had a response in the second half to get a goal back so early. We then made a quick change and got another goal immediately after that and looked like we could go on and win it.

"There were a lot of pleasing aspects but we wanted to get the three points and we haven't.

"It's nice that we're looking better as an attacking threat. That was always our aim but we also want that solid defensive platform."

The draw left Rovers' position in the league unchanged at number eight. They're in action again this Friday evening when they travel to face Grimsby Town.

Meet the opponents - Grimsby Town:

Nickname: The Mariners

Colours: Black and white shirts, black shorts, red socks

Ground: Blundell Park

Distance from Prenton Park: 148 miles 

Position last season: Third

One of the oldest names in English football. Once managed by the great Bill Shankly, the Mariners can boast a history of top-flight football but play at a more modest level these days following relegation from the Football League in 2010.