Rovers and out
SKY BET
LEAGUE ONE STANLEY........................... 1 TRANMERE ROVERS ..... 2 CALUM JOHNSON
ALATE red card ended any hopes of a fightback as Stanley suffered a 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers at the Wham Stadium on Saturday.
Harvey Rodgers received a second yellow card in injury time to cap a disappointing display by the hosts.
Stanley dominated the opening stages, carving out several good chances in the first five minutes before James Vaughan scored for Tranmere with his side’s first shot of the game.
Both sides struggled to carve the other open, but poor defending from The Reds let Mark Ellis in to score with just over ten minutes remaining.
Accrington hit back soon after, Alex Woodyard heading into his own net to set up a tense finish.
But despite pressure from Stanley they were unable to complete the comeback before Rodgers was sent off in the third minute of added time to condemn Accrington to a third defeat in four games.
The home side started brightly, Jordan Clark fashioning an excellent chance inside a minute.
The winger began a mazy run on the right wing, before cutting the ball back for Dion Charles, who slotted narrowly wide.
After five minutes Stanley had produced another three good moves before Clark again played in Charles, but the forward’s chip from a tight angle looped just over the bar.
Tranmere had scarcely seen the ball, but took a surprise lead after winning a free-kick from their first attacking move of the match.
The ball was swung in from the right by Kieron Morris and Vaughan planted a firm header into the ground, the bounce fooling Josef Bursik in the Stanley net.
The early goal seemed to unsettle the hosts, and from then on they lacked invention, instead resorting to long balls forward with Sam Finley and Rodgers particularly wasteful in possession.
Half-chances followed, Colby Bishop almost latching on to a cross from Finley before Jerome Opoku fired over on the turn.
Tranmere also threatened as Corey BlackettTaylor showed good feet to bundle past five Stanley defenders, but his shot was just too high.
Accrington started the second half as they had the first, crafting a series