TRANMERE caretaker boss Nigel Adkins has called on his players to "learn lessons" from their 2-0 defeat at league leaders Stockport as they prepare to enter this year's FA Cup. 

The table-topping Hatters broke two more club records thanks to a 10th straight Sky Bet League Two victory and an 11th in all competitions that saw their old Cheshire rivals slip into the relegation zone.

Stockport led at the interval thanks to Isaac Olaofe’s 12th goal of the season after he netted with just five minutes on the clock. 

The hosts wrapped up victory through Antoni Sarcevic shortly after Rovers’ Harvey Saunders was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.

The defeat was a fourth straight loss for Rovers and they are still pointless on the road this season.

Adkins said: “This was always going to be a huge challenge for us, we knew that. It was an uphill challenge.

“Stockport have got plenty of big threats so we had to try and stop them playing.

“We went behind after five minutes, but to be fair, after that the lads showed real resilience and at just 1-0 down at half-time, we were in the game.

“The sending-off straight after half-time changes the whole complexion, though.

“Despite that, we still created chances, and their keeper made two great saves.

“On another day we’d have got a VAR decision too for an offside that wasn’t.

“Stockport are top, we’re down near the bottom, so you don’t always get those decisions.

“We’ve just got to stick together as a group.

“We’ve got to learn the lessons from this and now we go into the FA Cup game next week looking to bounce back.”

Rovers face a tough trip to League One Stevenage in the first round of the cup on Saturday and despite his side's current form, Adkins believes the tie gives them a chance to reset.

"We always want to win the FA Cup games," added Adkins. "It will be another tough game against a team who got themselves promoted and we are away from home.

"But our intention is to win the next game of football and the next game is the next opportunity."