Pressure grows on Tranmere Rovers' boss after defeat at Sutton United

A header from Dan Fitchett just after the break did for Rovers, who lost three players through injury during the match, the last of which left them with only 10 players on the pitch.

Playing on an artificial surface, Brabin handed a first start of the season to Jake Kirby ahead of Andy Cook, while Jay Harris returned to the side for the suspended Jeff Hughes.

Tranmere offered promise early doors, with Kirby hitting the bar in the first minute, but darker times lay ahead for the travelling Super White Army.

James Norwood threatened the Sutton defence, but overall it was a disappointing second half showing

Maxime Biamou found himself in on goal for Sutton but elected to seek out Fitchett with an over-hit pass and the chance was gone.

Roarie Deacon then fired one over for the U’s as Tranmere struggled to take control of the match.

Harris required treatment inside 20 minutes and the midfielder was unable to continue – eventually replaced by Adam Mekki.

Things quickly got worse for Brabin as just minutes later Kirby – who had gone to ground in an earlier foray down the wing – signalled the end of his involvement to the bench and made way for Cook.

With Rovers unsettled, the hosts had the ball in the net on the half hour mark when Fitchett beat Scott Davies, only to be flagged offside.

Mekki responded by drilling a low shot at Ross Worner as Tranmere tried to get to grips with the pace of the artificial surface.

A cross from Dan Wishart found Biamou at the far post but hit first time volley bounced safely into the clutches of Davies.

Lois Maynard is sent tumbling in the early stages of the game, part of an intially tough contest

Good work from Cook found James Norwood in the box but the striker took a verbal off Maynard when he elected to shank an effort wide with a pass to the midfielder looking a better option.

The match was in dire need of some goalmouth action but it was Tranmere who would host it, just two minutes after the break.

A ball into the Rovers box was flicked on for Fitchett, who nodded home from close range.

With the visitors needing a reaction, a free kick from Steve Jennings was found by the towering Cook, but he could only direct his header wide of the goal.

Biamou wanted a penalty when Davies rushed out to meet the ball but only succeeded in getting a yellow card for diving.

With nothing happening for Rovers, Brabin made his final change on the hour, bringing on youngster Ethan Jones for the anonymous Stephenson.

Cook found Norwood in the box on 67 minutes but his touch was heavy and the best he could muster was a corner that came to nothing.

Mekki managed to fire off an effort on goal from the edge of the box but it deflected harmlessly into the arms of Worner.

It would be his last meaningful input as he pulled up with what looked like a calf strain and couldn’t continue. With all three substitutes already on the pitch Tranmere were forced to see out the game with 10 men.

As Rovers played out the final quarter of an hour of their hopeless task, a mob of supporters gathered behind the dugouts calling for the removal of the manager. The frustration was obvious. The answer to this alarming dip in form is much more complex.

Adam Mekki attempts a long range strike after the hosts had taken the lead in the second half

Manager Gary Brabin said afterwards: "We got out of the block bright and then we've had to make a couple of changes early in the game, which hasn’t helped.

"I think one thing we’ve certainly taken from today's game is that outside that 11 or 12 who started the season well, we need to be stronger.

"I think people have come into the side and haven’t done enough to stay in. With us losing players like have done I think we definitely need to strengthen.

"I was disappointing (that there was no reaction to going a goal down). It was a bit flat to be honest.

"It probably doesn't help when we've used all our subs.

"Adam Mekki's had to come off and we’ve gone down to ten men and the captain Jennings – he was also struggling. 

"We're not going to win leagues in September but we’re certainly not helping ourselves at the moment.

"It's highlighted something that have spoke about in the past, that we do need to strengthen. But I think that needs to be sooner rather than later.

"Some of the frustration probably is that people can see that we’re not far away and I can see that.

"But we’ve got no divine right. We should be doing better than our previous four games. We feel we no what our problems are and we feel that we need to strengthen if we are to sustain a challenge this year.

"It’s certainly not a crisis but we all know that things need to change. Our message is that we need to bring in more players."

Match stats

Sutton United 1 Fitchett 47 

Tranmere Rovers 0

Half time: 0-0

Star man: Scott Davies (Tranmere goalkeeper).

Attendance: 1,680

Entertainment: 1/5

Ref rating: Rob Whitton (6/10)

Sutton (4-4-2): Worner, Amankwaah, Wishart, Collins, Gomis, Fitcheet (Stearn 72), Eastmond, Bailey, Deacon, Biamou (Dickson 70), Downer Subs not used: Hudson-Odoi, Spence, Shaw

Tranmere (4-3-3): Davies, Vaughan, McNulty, Ihiekwe, Ridehalgh, S Jennings, Harris (Mekki 23), Maynard, Kirby (Cook 27), Norwood, Stephenson (Jones 60) Subs not used: Turner, Sutton Bookings Sutton: Bailey, Biamou