NOTTINGHAM Forest put a severe dent in Tranmere's play-off hopes with a flattering 2-0 victory at Prenton Park on Saturday.
Rovers now have a mountain of Everest proportions to climb following this disappointing reverse, and even maximum points from their remaining games would probably leave Ronnie Moore's side relying on their promotion rivals dropping points in the final furlong if a place in the top six is to be secured.
Those inside Prenton Park, however, could have few complaints about the endeavours of their side against a Forest team that has now secured a play-off place.
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The visitors' 2-0 victory belies the fact that Rovers dominated the opening half and looked well in control before Nathan Tyson's smash-and-grab opener, and the game remained in the balance until Wes Morgan's header at the start of the second period killed any hopes of a comeback, leaving the remaining 40 minutes pretty forgettable.
For their part, Forest were solid if unspectacular, and any side facing them in the play-offs should have absolutely nothing to fear.
In a fairly frantic opening, Tranmere set a high early tempo as they looked to force Forest onto the back foot.
Although the visitors' Brett Ormerod scuffed the first effort of the game harmlessly wide on 10 minutes, it was Rovers who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, and Ian Moore probably should have done better when firing straight at goalkeeper Paul Smith on the quarter-hour mark from a tight angle.
Shane Sherriff flashed a speculative effort well past the far post after cutting in from his position on the left flank, and with Rovers continuing to press the ball high up the pitch to give Forest precious little time to settle, it was the hosts who began to dominate.
"We have got to get three wins now - it is as simple as that."
Ronnie Moore
A reward for their early endeavours almost arrived on 20 minutes.
Chris Shuker's driving run and shot across the box was turned home from close range by Chris Greenacre, but the effort was ruled out by the linesman's flag for offside.
Paul McLaren stabbed a shot from the edge of the box wide soon after and Moore headed Stockdale's centre straight at Smith as Rovers continued to seek a reward for their constant pressing and harrying, and Moore sent his side's latest effort bouncing past the post on the half-hour after a superb passage of play.
The sucker punch to burst Tranmere's bubble arrived on 34 minutes. Nathan Tyson beat Antony Kay onto a hopeful punt over the top, toe-poked the ball past Danny Coyne after the goalkeeper had raced off his line, and tapped into the empty net for an opener his side had done little to deserve.
It would have been easy for Rovers to be deflated after falling behind, but in fairness Ronnie Moore's side went in search of an immediate equaliser, with Ian Goodison heading a great chance wide at the back post after being picked out by McLaren's cross.
Equal measures of disappointment and injustice hung over Prenton Park at the interval.
Chris Shuker headed tamely at Smith within a minute of the restart as Tranmere set about Forest once more, but the game was effectively killed off on 50 minutes when Rovers switched off at a short corner and Wes Morgan headed home Chris Cohen's cross at the back post to double his side's advantage.
Perhaps understandably, the game went flat thereafter, with Forest looking perfectly content to sit on their lead and Rovers struggling to rouse their spirits for a last throw of the dice.
Ronnie Moore played his final hand on 66 minutes with the introduction of Craig Curran and Steve Davies, the teenage winger returning to action for the first time in seven months following his remarkably speedy recovery from that cruciate knee injury, but in truth neither substitute made the sort of impact that would revitalise the hosts.
Tyson drove past the far post with his right foot and, at the other end, Moore's diving header from Greenacre's cross went close, but second-half chances remained few and far between as the game drifted towards a disappointing end.
After the game, Ronnie Moore said: "We have got to get three wins now, it is as simple as that, and the rest will take care of itself.
"It's out of our hands now, which is disappointing, but I've got nothing but praise for the way we have played today."
Globe Man of the Match:
Ian Moore - forward covered every blade of grass.
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