Jay Rich-Baghuelou was sent off in the first half for Accrington Stanley as Josh Hawkes scored twice for Tranmere Rovers.

Rovers had lost their previous five league games but, under interim manager Nigel Adkins, turned things around with a win over the Reds, who had the chance to go into the Play-Off spots.

John Coleman made four changes bringing in Joe Gubbins, Seb Quirk, Dan Martin and captain Joe Pritchard with Seamus Conneely and Liam Coyle unavailable and Kelvin Mellor and Lewis Shipley dropping to the bench.

Tranmere had a couple of early shots and were awarded a penalty by referee Sam Purkiss when Rosaire Longelo was judged to have handled the ball in the area on 14 minutes.

Hawkes stroked the ball home from the spot to give Tranmere the lead.

Chances were at a premium and Stanley were unable to test keeper Luke McGee until the 30^th minute when he collected Tommy Leigh’s long-range strike.

Regan Hendry’s free kick just needed a head on it as Rovers looked for a second.

Stanley were reduced to ten men on 42 minutes when defender Rich-Baghuelou saw red for what was judged a dangerous challenge in the centre of the park.

Hendry rifled just over after that and, on the stroke of half-time, Stanley suffered another blow when goalkeeper Toby Savin fell awkwardly from a challenge - leaving the field with his arm in a sling - and Jack McIntyre came on for his league debut.

Four minutes after the re-start, Hawkes made it two when he got the ball on the edge of the area, made space for himself and fired low into the bottom of the net.

Stanley then created a couple of opportunities with half chances for Pritchard and Josh Andrews while McGee palmed away a long-range Pritchard effort.

At the other end, McIntyre denied Hawkes a hat-trick by pushing an effort over the bar.

Sub Jack Nolan was denied by McGee when he raced through on 80 minutes while McIntyre tipped an effort from former Red Tom Davies over the bar in the closing stages.

Nolan curled a strike wide in added time as Stanley left Prenton Park empty-handed.

Stanley: Savin (McIntyre), Gubbins, Rich-Baghuelou, Hills, Quirk, Longelo, Martin (B Woods), Pritchard, Whalley (Nolan), Leigh, Andrews (Lowe)

Subs: Shipley, Mellor, Pickles

Attendance: 5980  (354 from asfc)

Yellow: Savin, Leigh

Red: Rich-Baghuelou