Pressure on Tranmere Rovers boss Nigel Adkins is mounting after his side were beaten 3-1 by Colchester United at Prenton Park.
It was the 10th defeat in 15 games for Tranmere, who now sit just three points from the drop zone in League Two.
On Thursday, Adkins‘ debrief with his side sought to improve discipline and decision-making after the 3-1 loss to Swindon Town, in which Tranmere had two players sent off.
But after just eight minutes against Colchester, it seemed the message had fallen on deaf ears as Connor Wood bundled over Jack Payne in the penalty area.
Lyle Taylor fired the resulting penalty into the top corner, taunting the home fans in the ensuing celebrations.
Tranmere struggled to create meaningful opportunities in response, with their opponents happy to drop off and let them find continuous dead ends.
And after 33 minutes, Colchester pounced to double their lead.
Teddy Bishop strolled through midfield and found Payne, who rolled the ball into the danger area for Taylor to stroke home again.
The Montserrat international’s first-half double ensured the Tranmere players went into the break to a symphony of boos.
HT' – The referee blows his whistle and met largely with boos by the home fans, very unhappy with their sides performance so far
Colchester United 2-0 Tranmere Rovers#TRFC #ColU
— Mathew Musgrave (@MJMJournalism) February 1, 2025
Five minutes after the break, Rovers pulled one back.
Substitute Kristian Dennis’ scuffed left footed shot took an age to find its target but eventually nestled into the bottom corner.
It was not long before Tranmere’s hopes of a comeback were extinguished by Colchester’s third with just over 25 minutes left.
Owura Edwards, a threat all game, jinked in between two Rovers defenders to blast a shot past keeper Luke McGee.
Tranmere tried again to get back into the game, but struggled to create clear cut chances against a well-organised Colchester defence.
On the full-time whistle, the boos intensified and calls for the former Southampton boss Adkins to resign ringed around Prenton Park.
FT' – All over here at Prenton Park as the final whistle is met by boos from the home fans, Despite the bright start to the second half for the home side Colchester were able to see out the away victory
Final Score: Colchester United 3-1 Tranmere Rovers#TRFC #ColU
— Mathew Musgrave (@MJMJournalism) February 1, 2025
Already the lowest scorers in the division, Adkins’ side are now level with Newport and bottom-placed Carlisle on goals conceded in League Two (46).
And thanks to Morecambe’s 4-2 win at home to Fleetwood Town, Tranmere visit Salford City next weekend now just three points off the relegation zone.