The possession statistics will tell you that Peterborough United bossed this game from start to finish, but if you analyse the shots on target, you will probably find that Tranmere Rovers deserved their narrow 1-0 success, either way it was defeat for Gary Johnson's men at Prenton Park.

Peterborough United were forced into two changes to the starting line-up for the visit to Prenton Park, the home of Tranmere Rovers with Grant McCann named on the substitutes bench following 65 minutes for Northern Ireland in Slovenia, Charlie Lee coming into midfield. The other change was at right-back with Chris Whelpdale replacing Nana, who has a slight strain.

Goalkeeper Joe Lewis was called upon inside the opening 60 seconds to keep the scores level as he threw himself to his left to parry a fierce header from youngster Adam McGurk after a clever cross into the box by Jermaine Grandison.

Gary Johnson's men, wearing the red away kit and being backed by a noisy contingent of supporters behind Joe Lewis' goal, had settled down after that early scare and were beginning to get George Boyd into the game on the left flank, with the former Stevenage man looking lively in possession.

A poor header back from Whelpdale was intercepted by McGurk on 17 minutes, but he volleyed across goal and when the ball was lofted back into the box, Enoch Showunmi headed over the crossbar.

Posh then put together the best move of the game, a raking pass from Charlie Lee picked out Arron Davies, he cushioned the ball inside and then played a clever one-two with Craig Mackail-Smith before the ball fell invitingly for Aaron Mclean, but Liam Darville produced a superb block to stop the striker from firing goal-wards.

Posh were then dealt a blow as winger Davies sustained a muscle injury forcing him off the field on 23 minutes. Striker Dave Hibbert was summoned by the management team to replace the former Yeovil man.

Tommy Rowe produced a fine block to stop a McGurk cross reaching Ian Thomas-Moore at the back post as Tranmere continued to look the more threatening in the final third as Posh adjusted to the forced substitution.

Posh carved out their best opportunity of the game on 31 minutes as Tommy Rowe cut inside from the left and rolled the ball to Lee, but he couldn't keep his left-foot shot down and the ball sailed over the bar.

Johnson's men came closer on 36 minutes to breaking the deadlock as a speculative volley from Boyd took a slight deflection and struck the top of the crossbar and from the resulting set-piece, Ryan Bennett saw a looping header pushed over the bar by Joe Collister.

An intelligent chip from Boyd drifted over the crossbar on 41 minutes, but although Posh were having plenty of efforts now, they were not cutting open the Tranmere defence and Ian Goodison was marshalling his troops well.

It was the home side who did find the breakthrough just before the interval and it was simplicity at it's finest, a throw in was given away and Lee allowed McGurk to turn him easily and lay an easy chance on a plate for MENDY who made no mistake.

Craig Mackail-Smith immediately rounded the goalkeeper at the other end, but Goodison was well positioned to clear the danger. A half of very little quality was then brought to a close and Posh, with Grant McCann available from the substitute's bench, will need to improve in the second 45 minutes to get back on level terms.

Half-time: Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Posh

Neither side made any changes at the interval as Posh, shooting towards their supporters, got the second period underway. Substitute Dave Hibbert fired wide of the target on 47 minutes after an intelligent knock-down from Mackail-Smith. A glorious in-swinging free-kick from Boyd then eluded everyone, including the sliding Langmead, as Posh pressed.

The home side were always going to have extra gaps to exploit with Posh on the attack and Grandison came close to extending the lead, but dragged his left-foot shot wide of the far post. Posh had certainly upped the tempo though and were looking far more dangerous. Wesolowski dragged a shot wide at the other end before Lee Tomlin was introduced from the bench.

Charlie Lee was the man to make way for Tomlin, leading to five forward players on the pitch for Johnson's men with 30-minutes remaining in the game. Tomlin had a chance with a free-kick from 25-yards, but he struck it into the wall.

Tranmere, buoyed by the home crowd, were winning their tackles in midfield though and frustrating Posh, who were struggling to use the extra attacking players to their advantage with Mendy in particular performing well for the home side.

Ian Goodison sent a speculative volley wide of the target from a floating corner as Tranmere again went close with Posh restricted to long-range efforts, Mclean's drive going wide on 69 minutes. Posh introduced Grant McCann for the final 20 minutes, withdrawing Mclean.

McCann nearly made an immediate impact, but his 30-yard free-kick sailed inches over the upright. Posh were now deploying a more accustomed 4-4-2 formation with Tomlin and Boyd on the wings and Hibbert operating alongside Mackail-Smith.

Tranmere were getting deeper and deeper into their defensive third and Posh were not having any attacks to deal with, but still Collister had not been troubled in the Tranmere goal, in fact as the game reached the final quarter, he hadn't been tested at all. He did get something to do moments later though as Wesolowski's volley was gathered by the shot-stopper after a good lay-off by Boyd.

Boyd came close to connecting with a Rowe pass by Collister smothered before the goalkeeper claimed a deep cross from Rowe and despite all of the possession and teritorial play, Tranmere were still not being severely tested despite long-range scuffed efforts from McCann.

McCann was booked for what the referee perceived as an elbow in the centre circle as the game entered the final five minutes plus stoppage time. Posh were starting to panic in the Tranmere back-line with Rowe firing wide on the volley after McCann's corner was only half cleared. Hibbert was then inches away from a Rowe centre with Goodison doing well to prevent Whelpdale from getting a touch at the back post.

Four minutes of added time was then indicated with Hibbert again heading wide within that sector of the game.

Final Score: Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Posh

Tranmere: Collister, Cresswell, Goodison, Blanchard, McGurk (sub Brown 67min), Grandison, Darville, Mendey, Showunmi, Thomas-Moore, Fraughan. Unused subs: Cathalina, Wood, Power, Coughlin, Bakayogo, Akins.

Posh: Lewis,Whelpdale, Langmead, Bennett, Rowe, Davies (sub Hibbert 24min), Wesolowski, Lee (sub Tomlin 56min), Boyd, Mclean (sub McCann 70min), Mackail-Smith. Unused subs: Collis, Zakuani, Piergianni, Davies.