CHELTENHAM TOWN..............2

TRANMERE ROVERS.................0

(Att: 3,070)

TRANMERE fell to a 2-0 defeat in their crucial clash against fellow relegation battlers Cheltenham Town.

With 13 games of the season remaining, manager Micky Adams predicted they will be among a band of seven or eight clubs "in the dogfight to the death."

Rovers got off to the worst posible start with a Danny Holmes' own-goal on seven minutes.

And a second half strike by Troy Brown gave the Gloucestershire side the points.

Despite the Robins having to make late goal-line clearances to deny Jordan Hugill and Jennison Myrie-Williams, Adams admitted his side "got what we deserved from the game - nothing."

It was the first home win for Cheltenham since October and their first clean sheet at Whaddon Road since September, while for Tranmere it was a fourth defeat in six.

Cheltenham ended the afternoon a point above the League Two danger area in 21st position, Tranmere are one place ahead of them on goal difference.

Adams made three changes, two of them enforced, from the side that lost 2-3 against Portsmouth on Tuesday evening.

Josh Thompson and Rob Taylor, injured in that game, were both out as Michael Ihiewke and Lee Molyneux returned.

Marc Laird dropped down to the bench. Michael Ihiekwe and Lee Molyneux came back into the side and there was a debut for striker Jordan Hugill who joined on loan from Preston North End this week.

The Rovers boss said: "Another disappointing away day. We started poorly and didn't get anywhere near them for the first 20 minutes which is unbelievable really.

"I think they knew the importance of the game but we got exactly what we deserved which is nothing. We've got to pick ourselves up and move on again.

"We've not been good enough, they wanted it more than we did which is disappointing.

"We've got to stop playing as individuals. We know we've got some decent players but we've got to gel them together.

"At this moment in time we're a long way from that. We looked a team against Shrewsbury and looked a team at Portsmouth for 75 minutes. But we've disappointed ourselves here today.

"In these games the first goal is all important. It gave them a massive lift and deflated us somewhat.

"We're juggling the side around again. We lost Thompson and Taylor and Ridehalgh had a back injury and wasn't 100% fit.

"We can't keep changing the side but at this moment in time we're forced to because of the injuries we've got.

"The second goal kills us. Kayode Odejayi is miles away from his man and you can't allow people to be free in the box."

Tranmere have two home games coming up - the first on Tuesday in an evening kick-off against Wycombe Wanderers, followed by Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

Adams added: "If we pick up six points the atmosphere and points tally will look a lot healthier.

"When I came into the club I knew what it was going to be like. There was no easy fix or easy solution. I've tried my best to improve it, but players need time.

"We're one of seven or eight clubs that are going to be in the dogfight right to the death.

"We've got to show more determination to get a result. If we do that and the crowd stay with us we'll be okay.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves, that's the worst thing we can do. We'll pick ourselves up, we're back in the morning, and we'll go again."