An early goal from James Coppinger settled a scrappy game between two promotion chasing sides as Doncaster beat Tranmere 1-0 at Prenton Park.Coppinger fired home from the edge of the box with a terrific strike in the second minute and it proved enough to give Doncaster their eighth away success.

The visitors played a well-drilled defensive game for much of the time to frustrate the Merseysiders who found themselves losing for the first time in nine matches.

Tranmere did have some chances but John Mullin and Antony Kay both just missed the target and Chris Greenacre was out of luck with a couple of overhead efforts.

The home side sent on Calvin Zola to bolster their attack for the last half-hour but Doncaster were in no mood to concede with Matt Ronnie Moore's side threw everything into a late surge but Ian Moore saw a header saved and Paul McLaren flashed a free-kick over the bar.

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