Tranmere 1-0 Brentford

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A Jason Koumas strike after an hour was enough to earn Tranmere an impressive victory that knocked the Bees off the top of the table.

The encounter started out as a cagey affair but the better chances fell to the Merseysiders as they avenged the 4-0 drubbing they suffered against the Londoners in September.

Koumas struck a sweetly-hit right-foot shot from 20 yards following a deep cross from Sean Flynn.

Tranmere would have gone ahead after 17 minutes but for a fine save by the goalkeeper from a close-range effort by Nick Henry.

Then Steve Yates just failed to connect with a Micky Mellon corner in front of a gaping goal shortly before half-time.

Koumas also went close in the 54th minute when Gottskalksson produced an excellent one-handed save to keep out the Welshman's chipped effort after good work by Mellon.

Koumas also hit the side netting before delivering the decisive blow.

Brentford never quite put enough pressure on the home goal but, during a late rally, Lloyd Owusu and substitute Mark McCammon both fired over the crossbar.

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Tranmere: Achterberg, Yates, Roberts, Allen, Hill, Mellon, Koumas, Flynn, Henry, Allison, Price. Subs Not Used: Parkinson, Murphy, Barlow, Rideout, Sharps.

Booked: Allen.

Brentford: Gottskalksson, Anderson, Ingimarsson, Powell, Mahon, Evans, Hunt (McCammon 72), Sidwell (Williams 78), Owusu, Dobson, Burgess. Subs Not Used: Paul Smith, O'Connor, Theobald.

Booked: Dobson, Powell.

Att: 9,389.

Referee: A Kaye (Wakefield).