Injury-ravaged Birmingham failed to win for the seventh successive match as
their promotion hopes took another knock.
Relegation-threatened Tranmere were thrown a possible lifeline by a
69th-minute goal by Senegal-born Seyni N'Diaye.
N'Diaye headed home with a looping effort from a free-kick by Jason Koumas
after Blues keeper Ian Bennett was penalised for handling outside the box.
It gave managerless Tranmere a first win in nine matches - but they still
remain in the bottom three with a lot of work to do to escape the drop.
Birmingham had the better first half chances but Marcelo missed a sitter after
only six minutes and saw a 45th-minute effort rebound off the right-hand post.
Andrew Johnson also had no luck with a left-footed shot which struck the
side-netting.
Stan Lazaridis was always in the thick of the action for Birmingham but
nothing would go right for them in front of goal.
They staged a grandstand finale but Rovers hung on defiantly.
N'Diaye could easily have had a second goal in the 79th minute when he
dispossessed Bennett - but his shot was too weak and City keeper Dave Holdsworth
just got back to kick clear off the line.
In the 90th minute Tranmere midfield star Koumas fired into the side-netting.
N'Diaye claimed the man of the match award with his first goal for Tranmere
but Steve Yates and the recalled Clint Hill made a terrific contribution.
But tempers became a little frayed during a frenzied second half. Tranmere's
Richard Jobson and the Birmingham duo of Michael Johnson and Andrew Johnson were
all cautioned.
Tranmere caretaker-boss Kevin Sheedy gambled in the 67th minute when he sent
on striker Stuart Barlow in place of Wayne Allison and the reward came with the
only goal just a couple of minutes later.
Holdsworth and Michael Johnson generally did well in central defence for the
Blues but this was another game they should not have lost and they are now going
to have to make do with the play-offs if they are to regain their place in the
top flight of English football.
Teams:
Tranmere: Murphy, Allen, Jobson, Hill, Yates, Kenna, Flynn,
Osborn, Koumas, Allison (Barlow 66), N'Diaye (Parkinson 90).
Subs Not Used: Achterberg, Challinor, Morgan.
Booked: Jobson.
Goals: N'Diaye 70.
Birmingham: Bennett, Gill, Holdsworth, Michael Johnson,
Burrows, Eaden (Horsfield 79), Hughes, Woodhouse, Lazaridis,
Marcelo, Andrew Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Bass, Luntala, Capaldi.
Booked: Andrew Johnson, Michael Johnson.
Att: 8,004
Ref: T Bates (Stoke on Trent).
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