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By Harry Nightingale

Goals from Matt Tubbs and Gwion Edwards ensured Tranmere were brought crashing back down to earth as Crawley handed Rovers a first defeat in four games.

Heading to West Sussex, Tranmere’s fight for survival had been boosted by back-to-back victories over fellow strugglers Shrewsbury and Colchester.

But goals in each half from a stunning Tubbs free-kick and Edwards – the latter on his first appearance for Crawley since signing on loan from Premier League Swansea last month – ensures Rovers are still looking over their shoulders, sitting three points clear of the drop with four games left.

Tranmere, who began the game three points below Crawley, started brightly but the first chance fell to Crawley in the seventh minute.

Tubbs evaded Ian Goodison – fit again after being withdrawn before the end of the win over Shrewsbury at the weekend – but couldn’t find Jamie Proctor and Matthew Pennington cleared.

Five minutes later, Everton loanee Pennington was in action at the other end as he connected with a towering header from a corner, only to find Paul Jones, making his 100th appearance for the hosts, make a smart save low down on the line.

Crawley continued to test Tranmere’s defence with searching balls forward. Skipper Goodison was coping admirably at the heart of Rovers’ defence but Crawley were handed another chance when Mike Jones found himself free on the edge of the box.

However Pennington, having a superb opening 15 minutes, averted danger once more with a pivotal block in the Rovers area as the ball looped clear for a corner.

Rovers did look threatening on the attack and on the half hour, with both sides enjoying equal possession, Max Power tried his luck with a fierce drive which Jones gathered safely.

Ten minutes before the break, though, Power was at fault for Crawley’s opener when he brought down Proctor 20 yards out.

With three players over the free-kick, Tubbs struck a superb curling effort past a fully-stretched Owain fon Williams into the top right.

It was the last meaningful action before half-time, with Tranmere’s seven fouls a telling statistic.

McMahon made no changes at the break and Tranmere started brightly. Rovers nearly equalised in the 53rd minute when they breached Crawley’s defence for the first time. Jake Cassidy pulled clear from Mark Connolly on the left, but the Wolves loanee seemed to be weighing up his options before firing at Jones, who parried clear at his near post.

Rovers were now making inroads down the right flank and Cassidy found himself clear in the box. But one touch too many gave him little room for an angle and Jones easily saved.

Crawley, looking to build on a 2-0 win at MK Dons which stopped a run of six straight defeats, stemmed Tranmere’s bright spell and McMahon made his first change with 20 minutes left as Cole Stockton replaced Junior Brown.

With 12 minutes left, and Tranmere’s 254 travelling supporters showing signs of frustration, Jake Kirby was awarded a cheap free-kick on the left.

But Stockton, with his first meaningful effort, saw his header go wide at the back post.

It was Kirby’s last contribution before being replaced by James Rowe.

Tranmere still looked threatening though, and Cassidy’s whipped cross saw Jean Louis Akpa Akpro unmarked at the far post. However, his downward header went straight into the arms of Jones once more.

And five minutes from time, Rovers’ fate was sealed when Gary Dicker fed an unmarked Edwards. Fon Williams came scampering out of goal abut Edwards coolly slotted home.

Proctor went close to scoring Crawley’s third at the death, but his right-footed shot came off the post, with fon Williams well beaten.

Last night was the start of a busy period for Rovers – four games in 10 days – and defeat will further test the depth of McMahon’s squad.

Tranmere now face another trip south when they visit Gillingham on Good Friday before hosting Sheffield United, the FA Cup semi-finalists, on Easter Monday with wins a must at this late stage of the campaign.

CRAWLEY(4-4-2): Jones, Connolly, McFadzean, Walsh, Sadler, Jones, Drury (Edwards 75), Bulman, Simpson (Dicker 81), Tubbs (Torres 59), Proctor. Subs not used: Essam, Fallon, Monakana, Maddison.

TRANMERE (4-4-2): Williams, Pennington, Taylor, Goodison, Ridehalgh, Kirby (Rowe 78), Power, Jennings, Brown (Stockton 71), Cassidy, Alka Akpro. Subs not used: Holmes, Morris, Bolans, Arthurworrey, Mooney.