npower League One Tranmere Rovers 1 Colchester Utd 0

COLCHESTER United suffered a fourth successive defeat at out-of-form Tranmere this afternoon courtesy of Enoch Showunmi’s second half goal.

The U’s have now taken lost nine of their last 12 away games in the league and – with nine games to play – they are suddenly looking nervously over their shoulders rather than hopefully up towards the distant top six.

Tranmere came into this match without a win in seven, but after a fragmented first half they were able to get their noses in front when Showunmi got in between debutant Tommy Smith and left-back Ben Coker to score after 53 minutes.

Colchester did rally and had two chances cleared off the line after that, but in truth they never really found any rhythm in what was another away day to forget.

– Reaction to follow. Full match report in Monday’s EADT.

TRANMERE (4-4-1-1): Warner; Kay, Goodison, McChrystal, Cresswell; Akins (Labadie 73), Weir, Welsh (cpt), Jennings (Bakayogo 63); Robinson (Taylor 86); Showunmi.

Unused Subs: Mahon, Collister, Blanchard, McGurk.

Booked: Welsh (32), Kay (38).

COLCHESTER UTD (4-4-2): Williams; Wilson, Clarke, Smith, Coker; Vincent (Henderson 83), James (O’Toole 83), Perkins (cpt), Wordsworth (Bond 69); Gillespie, Odejayi.

Unused Subs: Cousins, White, Heath, Izzet.

Booked: Wordsworth (59).

Referee: Mr K Woolmer