Tranmere’s woes continued as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by bottom of League Two Harrogate Town.
Three first half goals put the result beyond doubt as Pete Wild’s team walked off to loud boos at the interval and full time.
The defeat means Rovers are now winless in seven, and have lost 15 of their last 19 games in the EFL League Two.
Wild made three changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Fleetwood on Saturday with Charlie Whitaker, Lewis Warrington, and James Plant replacing Billy Blacker, Nohan Kenneh and Zech Obiero.
Two goals in three minutes had the hosts 2-0 down inside 11 minutes, Reece Smith drove through the heart of the Tranmere midfield, firing a shot into the bottom left corner as space opened up on the edge of the box.
A poor corner routine allowed Harrogate captain Jack Evans to lead a three-on-one counter-attack from the edge of his own box, before teeing up Chanse Headman who fired past Marko Marosi to double the away sides lead.
Tranmere struggled to create any chances, and a dire first half was punished further in the 39th minute as Tom Hill’s low cross from the right-hand side was tapped in by Headman for his second of the night.
Omari Patrick twice tested Henry Gray in the Harrogate goal, but Tranmere never threatened to get back into the game.
In his post-match interview, Wild admitted he picked the wrong team, and said: “The three goals were just ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.
“Tonight I’m quite clear on what the Achilles heel is if I wasn’t before, I also know what we need to work on now.
“Anybody who wants free flowing football over the next eight games, I don’t think it’s going to be that, we’re going to have defend for our lives.
“If you give everything you’ve got I can defend you, but if you don’t give everything you’ve got there’s no hiding place”
The defeat means Tranmere are now only six points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Harrogate are now off the bottom of League Two.
(Featured pic by Sam Nicholson)
