Notts County ended a run of nine straight defeats and hauled themselves out of the League One relegation zone with a hard-fought victory at Tranmere.

The game's only goal saw Craig Westcarr convert a first-half penalty after Zoumana Bakayogo had fouled Jon Harley.

Tranmere had been the better side until that point, but a stop-start second half failed to ignite until late on.

Rovers' Adam McGurk's header was tipped over before Ricky Ravenhill saw red for the Magpies for violent conduct.

The vital win moves Martin Allen's Notts up to 19th place, two points clear of Walsall - who drop into the final relegation place.

Tranmere remain in 18th, six points clear of the drop zone.

POST-MATCH REACTION

Tranmere manager Les Parry told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"We all know Zoumana Bakayogo and he said it wasn't a penalty. The lad's just got in front of him and slipped and that's how it looked from where I was.

"We said to the lads at half time 'don't get frustrated' even if it's still 1-0 with 10 minutes to go. We didn't and we were a little too frantic.

"The crowd got behind us brilliantly because I think they could see the effort the lads were putting in."

Notts County manager Martin Allen told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"That is a big three points. What spirit, determination, unity and resilience - all the words you could think of were rolled into that performance.

"You could see what it meant to everybody and I am very proud of them.

"In just over a week that's three good performances - OK there have been two defeats, but it's three good performances."

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)

Tranmere

  • 01 Warner Booked
  • 03 Cresswell
  • 05 Goodison
  • 06 McChrystal
  • 12 Taylor
  • 17 Kay Booked
  • 24 Bakayogo (Jennings - 60' )
  • 08 Welsh
  • 10 Weir (McGurk - 70' )
  • 07 Showunmi
  • 27 Akins (Robinson - 83' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Collister
  • 14 Wood
  • 18 Blanchard
  • 09 Robinson
  • 15 Fraughan
  • 21 Jennings
  • 26 McGurk

Notts County

  • 17 Nelson
  • 06 Thompson (Lee - 72' )
  • 14 Chilvers Booked
  • 24 Regan (Hawley - 53' )
  • 26 Harley Booked
  • 28 Sodje Booked
  • 08 Ravenhill Dismissed
  • 10 Bishop
  • 25 Spicer Booked
  • 09 L Hughes (Burgess - 58' )
  • 20 Westcarr

Substitutes

  • 01 Burch
  • 05 Lee
  • 21 Martin
  • 22 Judge
  • 15 Hawley
  • 27 Burgess
  • 29 Brandy
Ref: Quinn
Att: 12,249

Match Stats

Shots

16 2

On target

8 1

Corners

10 1

Fouls

11 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +8:31 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +7:35 Dismissal

Dismissal Richard Ravenhill receives a red card for professional foul.

90:00 +6:03

Inswinging corner taken by Aaron Cresswell, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Andy Robinson misses to the right of the target.

90:00 +6:03 Booking

Booking Tony Warner goes into the referee's book.

90:00 +4:24

Andy Robinson decides to take a short corner.

90:00 +4:14

Aaron Cresswell sends in a cross, Sam Sodje manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +3:21

Andy Robinson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.

90:00 +2:13

Stuart Nelson takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:13 Booking

Booking Jon Harley booked.

90:00 +1:46

A cross is delivered by Michael Kay, Jon Harley fouled by Enoch Showunmi, the ref awards a free kick.

90:00 +1:24

Corner taken by Aaron Cresswell from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by John Spicer.

90:00 +0:23

Short corner worked by John Spicer.

90:00 +0:23 Booking

Booking John Spicer booked.

88:59

The assistant referee flags for offside against Andy Robinson. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

85:55

A cross is delivered by Aaron Cresswell, Graeme Lee makes a clearance.

84:45

The ball is sent over by Craig Westcarr, Ben Burgess takes a shot. Save made by Tony Warner.

82:35 Substitution

Substitution Andy Robinson replaces Lucas Akins.

81:06

Graeme Lee restarts play with the free kick.

81:06 Booking

Booking Michael Kay is booked.

80:58

Foul by Michael Kay on Neal Bishop, free kick awarded.

80:28

The ball is delivered by Michael Kay, clearance made by Liam Chilvers.

79:03

Strike on goal comes in from Aaron Cresswell from the free kick, Ben Burgess manages to make a clearance.

78:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Chilvers on Adam McGurk.

79:03

Aaron Cresswell takes the free kick.

79:03 Booking

Booking Booking for Liam Chilvers for unsporting behaviour.

78:54

Adam McGurk fouled by Liam Chilvers, the ref awards a free kick.

78:28

Adam McGurk takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Nelson.

78:05

Graeme Lee concedes a free kick for a foul on Dale Jennings. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Cresswell.

75:31

The ball is sent over by Michael Kay, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Ian Goodison misses to the left of the goal.

74:22

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Aaron Cresswell, Stuart Nelson makes a save.

74:22 Booking

Booking Sam Sodje booked.

74:15

Sam Sodje gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dale Jennings.

73:09

Ben Burgess sends in a cross, save by Tony Warner.

71:51 Substitution

Substitution Graeme Lee joins the action as a substitute, replacing John Thompson.

69:15

Tony Warner takes the free kick.

69:15 Substitution

Substitution Adam McGurk is brought on as a substitute for Robbie Weir.

69:15

John Spicer is caught offside.

65:50

Enoch Showunmi produces a cross, save by Stuart Nelson.

64:44

Shot from just outside the penalty area by John Welsh misses to the left of the target.

63:20

Richard Ravenhill challenges Robbie Weir unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark McChrystal takes the direct free kick.

59:24

Tony Warner restarts play with the free kick.

59:24 Substitution

Substitution Dale Jennings is brought on as a substitute for Zoumana Bakayogo.

59:24

Ben Burgess concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark McChrystal.

57:38 Substitution

Substitution Lee Hughes goes off and Ben Burgess comes on.

57:19

Centre by Aaron Cresswell, Ash Taylor has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

56:19

Corner taken by Aaron Cresswell from the left by-line, clearance made by Sam Sodje.

55:44

Neal Bishop concedes a free kick for a foul on John Welsh. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Cresswell.

52:29 Substitution

Substitution Karl Hawley on for Carl Regan.

51:45

Shot from 20 yards by Michael Kay. Save by Stuart Nelson.

50:42

Zoumana Bakayogo has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

47:05

The ball is swung over by Michael Kay, Stuart Nelson makes a save.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +2:16 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +0:48

Centre by Michael Kay, clearance by Sam Sodje.

45:00 +0:34

Michael Kay fouled by Lee Hughes, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark McChrystal.

45:00 +0:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Welsh by John Spicer. Tony Warner restarts play with the free kick.

44:35

Zoumana Bakayogo concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Westcarr. Direct free kick taken by John Thompson.

44:23

The ball is delivered by Zoumana Bakayogo, clearance by Sam Sodje.

44:12

Michael Kay crosses the ball, clearance made by John Spicer.

41:56 Goal scored

Goal - Craig Westcarr - Tranmere 0 - 1 Notts Co Placed penalty scored by Craig Westcarr. Tranmere 0-1 Notts County.

40:21

Neal Bishop delivers the ball, Jon Harley fouled by Zoumana Bakayogo, the ref awards a Penalty.

39:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Welsh on Jon Harley. Free kick crossed right-footed by John Spicer, save by Tony Warner.

39:40

Jon Harley sends in a cross, clearance by Mark McChrystal.

38:47

Lucas Akins fouled by Richard Ravenhill, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Kay.

37:51

Effort on goal by Lee Hughes from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

37:36

Craig Westcarr delivers the ball, Ian Goodison makes a clearance.

35:56

Lucas Akins fouled by Richard Ravenhill, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark McChrystal.

35:48

Neal Bishop sends in a cross, Michael Kay manages to make a clearance.

34:45

Centre by Lucas Akins, Shot from just outside the penalty area by Zoumana Bakayogo misses to the left of the target.

31:57

Handball by Zoumana Bakayogo. Indirect free kick taken by John Thompson.

31:39

John Spicer concedes a free kick for a foul on Ash Taylor. Tony Warner takes the free kick.

30:23

Corner from the right by-line taken by Robbie Weir, Sam Sodje manages to make a clearance.

30:13

Shot by Robbie Weir. Save by Stuart Nelson.

29:04

Handball by Neal Bishop. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Aaron Cresswell from right wing.

28:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jon Harley by Robbie Weir. John Spicer takes the free kick. Craig Westcarr delivers the ball, Tony Warner makes a save.

26:11

A cross is delivered by Enoch Showunmi, Ian Goodison takes a shot. Stuart Nelson makes a save.

23:55

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Spicer on Zoumana Bakayogo. Tony Warner takes the free kick.

23:15

A cross is delivered by Zoumana Bakayogo, Effort on goal by Enoch Showunmi from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

22:37

Centre by John Thompson, save by Tony Warner.

21:39

Enoch Showunmi concedes a free kick for a foul on Neal Bishop. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

20:26

The official flags Ash Taylor offside. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

19:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lucas Akins by Carl Regan. Aaron Cresswell takes the free kick.

18:05

John Spicer is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Tony Warner.

15:05

Floated corner taken by Robbie Weir, free kick awarded for a foul by Enoch Showunmi on Sam Sodje. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

14:59

Robbie Weir sends in a cross, blocked by John Thompson.

14:31

Short corner worked by Robbie Weir.

14:04

The ball is crossed by John Spicer, Tony Warner makes a save.

11:44

Michael Kay delivers the ball, save made by Stuart Nelson.

9:47

A cross is delivered by Lee Hughes, clearance by Mark McChrystal.

9:16

The official flags Enoch Showunmi offside. Free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

9:04

Foul by Liam Chilvers on Ian Goodison, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tony Warner.

8:25

John Welsh challenges John Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jon Harley restarts play with the free kick.

7:36

Short corner worked by Robbie Weir. A cross is delivered by Michael Kay, save by Stuart Nelson.

7:23

Mark McChrystal takes a shot. Save by Stuart Nelson.

6:22

Lucas Akins takes a shot. Save by Stuart Nelson.

5:27

Sam Sodje fouled by John Welsh, the ref awards a free kick. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

2:24

Enoch Showunmi produces a cross, Richard Ravenhill manages to make a clearance.

0:52

Unfair challenge on Craig Westcarr by Lucas Akins results in a free kick. Carl Regan takes the free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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