Attendance: 7,467 (494 Visiting Fans)

Match Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne and Wear)

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There have been a number of big games at Prenton Park this season, a few of which could have seen Rovers move top of the League in the seasons early stages but the fact that Rovers failed to take any of those past opportunities may have been a forewarning that this crucial home tie against Swansea would go the same way.

A win for Rovers would have seen them stay three points clear of the seventh placed team in League One and more importantly remain in the play-off positions.  Added to the fact that a Rovers win would move them another win ahead of one of their play-off chasing rivals the game was vitally important - but someone obviously forgot to tell the Rovers players.

Goals in either half from ex-Rover Andy Robinson and Lee Trundle condemned Rovers to defeat before Trundle was sent off for kicking the ball away having already been booked for his celebrations but even against ten men Rovers could not make the breakthrough themselves.

Ronnie Moore had the luxury of being able to name an unchanged side from the one that won 2-0 at home to Chesterfield although there was one change on the bench that saw the injured Jason McAteer replaced by Danny Harrison.

The danger signs were evident early on for Rovers as Gavin Ward’s attempted clearance struck Lee Trundle and could have gone anywhere but fortunately for Rovers it fell for Ian Goodison who was able to head back into the arms of his goalkeeper.

Just six minutes into the game the visitors did make the breakthrough when Rovers fell asleep at the back and some dreadful marking and positioning allowed Leon Britton to lay on the perfect cross for former Rovers player and Birkenhead born Andy Robinson to head home virtually unmarked to give Swansea the lead.

A few minutes after the taking the lead, Ian Craney almost doubled it when his effort from distance appeared to bobble in front of Gavin Ward and he could only palm the ball wide for a corner as the visitors continued to push forward.

Rovers finally increased the tempo of their game as the half wore on with chances falling to Shuker and McLaren but there was still danger at the other end too as Ward saved well from Britton and Goodison was forced to block a Lee trundle shot.

The home side had the last chance of the half when Chris Shuker curled a long-range free-kick around the Swansea wall but wide of the goal.

The Swans began the second half in the same way that they had begun the first with Roberto Martinez’s side putting pressure on the home defence from the kick-off.

Just four minutes after the re-start Andy Robinson almost added his and Swansea’s second goal but his shot struck a post and was gathered by Ward before Pawel Abbott could control the rebound.

Three minutes later though and the lead was doubled as Lee Trundle broke clear of the Rovers defence and slotted the ball past Gavin Ward and it was as good as game over Rovers as Trundle was also booked for over-celebrating in front of the Rovers fans in the Johnny King Stand.

That booking was to prove costly for Trundle as just seven minutes later he appeared to kick the ball away after the referee had already blown his whistle and received a second yellow card followed of course by the inevitable red card.

With Swansea down to ten men, Rovers made an attacking substitution by replacing Shane Sherriff with Calvin Zola who joined Taylor and Greenacre upfront as Rovers, as they had towards the end of the first half, started to look a little more like scoring.

Chris McCready and Gareth Taylor both headed chances wide for Rovers before Steve Davies replaced Kevin Ellison in a straight swap on the left side of midfield.

Davies made an instant impact with a run and cross that was cleared by the visitors before John Mullin’s volley was expertly saved by Gueret in the Swansea goal as Rovers failed to make the breakthrough and Swansea took the vital three points and more importantly to move within a point of Rovers and the play-off places.

Blackpool’s home draw with Brighton saw them move into the play-offs ahead of Rovers on goal difference with the Seasiders also still having a game in hand on Rovers as well.

Rovers now face two tough away trips starting with Port Vale next Saturday and then Bournemouth the week after.

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