Torquay United 0-0 Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere were forced to hold on for a 0-0 draw at Torquay after going down to nine men.

Micky Mellon's side showed no signs of a hangover from May's National League play-off heartache as James Norwood and Liam Ridehalgh both went close within the first five minutes.

From there Torquay, who avoided relegation on the final day of last season, restricted Tranmere to half chances and deserved to go in 0-0 at the break.

But Tranmere's hopes of seizing the early initiative in the title race took a blow when Steve McNulty saw red after 55 minutes for a second yellow, before Norwood's red card after 85 minutes left them grateful for a point.

Match report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Live Text

Line-ups

Torquay

• 1Clarke
• 5McGintyBooked at 61mins
• 4LathropeBooked at 7minsSubstituted forReidat 64'minutes
• 7Chaney
• 6Gowling
• 8Young
• 23Higgins
• 11GoslingSubstituted forLeeat 70'minutes
• 10KeatingBooked at 54mins
• 9PittmanSubstituted forGrayat 70'minutes
• 18KlukowskiBooked at 68mins

Substitutes

• 14Anderson
• 15Lee
• 17Gray
• 19Reid
• 20Osborn

Tranmere

• 1Davies
• 22BuxtonBooked at 84mins
• 6McEveley
• 8Harris
• 3Ridehalgh
• 24Hughes
• 5McNultyBooked at 54mins
• 15NorburnSubstituted forSuttonat 57'minutes
• 12AlabiSubstituted forCookat 74'minutes
• 10NorwoodBooked at 85mins
• 11Jennings

Substitutes

• 9Cook
• 12Sutton
• 16Dunn
• 19Mangan
• 26Pilling

Referee:

Sam Allison

Attendance:

3,162

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Torquay United 0, Tranmere Rovers 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'

Second Half ends, Torquay United 0, Tranmere Rovers 0.

Dismissal

Posted at 85'

James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the red card.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Andy Cook replaces James Alabi.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Torquay United. James Gray replaces Jon-Paul Pittman.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Torquay United. Jordan Lee replaces Jake Gosling.

Substitution

Posted at 64'

Substitution, Torquay United. Jamie Reid replaces Damon Lathrope.

Booking

Posted at 61'

Sean McGinty (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card.

Substitution

Posted at 57'

Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Ritchie Sutton replaces Ollie Norburn.

Booking

Posted at 54'

Ruairi Keating (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card.

Dismissal

Posted at 54'

Second yellow card to Steve McNulty (Tranmere Rovers) for a bad foul.

Second Half

Posted at

Second Half begins Torquay United 0, Tranmere Rovers 0.

Half Time

Posted at 45'+5'

First Half ends, Torquay United 0, Tranmere Rovers 0.

Booking

Posted at 20'

Steve McNulty (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card.

Booking

Posted at 7'

Damon Lathrope (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card.

Kick Off

Posted at

First Half begins.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.