TRANMERE Rovers manager Gary Brabin has slammed the performance that saw his squad beaten 1-0 by Barrow at Prenton Park last night.

A first half strike by Andy Haworth ensured that Barrow took all three points from Rovers.

The home side applied pressure early on and had plenty of possession and shots on goal, but it counted for nothing.

A disappointed Brabin said afterwards: "We had opportunities to score but we're not ruthless enough.

"We had enough chances to score at least one.

"There were enough chances to have scored but we didn't and defensively we weren't put under any pressure to concede and we have and that's the top and tail of it."

Their first chance came five minutes into the game, when Adam Mekki found Steven Jennings whose effort went wide of former Sunderland trainee, Joel Dixon's right hand post from six yards.

Midway through the first half, Mekki's cross-field ball tried to find Margetts whose tricky feet took the ball through to keeper Dixon.

On 32 minutes, a Jay Harris cross from the right picked out Ridehalgh who fired over from 10 yards.

Shortly after, Rovers nearly had the break through when Norwood hit a low shot from the right, which was easily claimed by at Dixon.

The visitors opened the scoring 37 minutes in through Andy Haworth, whose low 20-yard strike from the left flew past Scott Davies in the Tranmere goal.

The final real chance of the match fell to Tranmere on 83 minutes as Norwood found Margetts on the inside left channel only for him to fire into the arms of Dixon from 20 yards.

This was the final action of the match. It was a night to forget for Rovers as Barrow claimed the three points.

Brabin made changes to an injury-hit Tranmere squad had a number of changes from that which began the match against Eastleigh.

Liam Ridehalgh, Steven Jennings, Adam Mekki and Jonny Margetts all returned to the starting line-up while there was a place on the bench for youth team captain Daren Askew.

He was forced into making four changes to the side through injury and suspension but he refused to use that as an excuse.

"I don't want to hide behind excuses of injuries.

"The easiest thing for me to do would be to go and sign players, but I saw it as an opportunity for some players to be given a chance but tonight has definitely shown me that we need to improve in certain areas.

"I'm always looking to try and improve things.

"Now we've lost key players, when we're a bit short, like we were tonight, I don't think we're good enough."

Rovers face Forest Green in an away match this Saturday.

Meet the opponents - Forest Green Rovers

Nickname: Rovers, The Green

Colours: Green and black shirts, green shorts, green & black socks

Ground: The New Lawn Stadium

Distance from Prenton Park: 166 miles

Position last season: Fifth

'The little club on the hill’ are the longest serving members of the Conference Premier (now National League). Reached the play-off semi-finals last season.