Tranmere 1 Doncaster 2: Rovers perfecting art of smash and grab with leaders latest to succumb

Hume came back to haunt his former club who must have thought they’d salvaged a point having coming from behind at Prenton Park.

Billy Paynter gave the visitors a 48th minute lead with his second goal in as many games, only for Wolves loan forward Jake Cassidy to hit back with just three minutes remaining. It was Cassidy’s ninth goal of the season. But there was still time for Hume to steal the headlines. The Preston North End loan hitman popped up in injury time to inflict a second successive defeat on Tranmere.

Victory for Rovers has now seen Dean Saunder’s in-form side unbeaten in their last five matches as they continue their charge up the table.

Rovers had to weather a storm from Ronnie Moore’s outfit who, if they had been more clinical in front of goal, could have put the game to bed by the break.

Andy Robinson shot wide early on and had a free-kick saved by Rovers’ keeper Gary Woods, while Danny Holmes shot wide in a good position.

Paynter rifled home from close-range three minutes after the restart to stun the hosts, before Adam McGurk and Ben Gibson both went close for the leaders.

Substitute Joe Thompson shot wide before Casssidy pounced at the death.

But Hume had the last laugh, netting his second goal of the season to seal the contest.

Tranmere: Fon Williams, Holmes, Taylor, Bakayogo, Gibson, Palmer, Wallace, Robinson (Thompson 70), Cassidy, McGurk (Stockton 77), Bell-Baggie. Unused substitutes: Mooney, Black, Goodison, Harrison, Kay.

Doncaster: G Woods, Quinn, Husband (Griffin 77), Jones, Spurr, Cotterill (Syers 61), Harper, Keegan, Paynter (Blake 90), Hume, Bennett. Unused substitutes: Sullivan, Brown, M Woods, Wakefield.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).