Nine-man Accrington beat Tranmere to keep slim promotion hopes alive

Nine-man Accrington kept their slim promotion hopes alive with a 1-0 victory at Tranmere to stay within touching distance of the play-off places.

A solitary goal from Paddy Madden early in the second half secured the points for the visitors and condemned the hosts to a seventh defeat in eight matches.

Stanley dominated the early exchanges and should have led after 20 minutes when Josh Woods headed against the bar from two yards out.

Rovers’ only notable first-half effort fell to Joe Ironside, whose header dipped just over 10 minutes before the break.

Accrington made the breakthrough three minutes after the restart as Madden, left unmarked, nodded Isaac Heath’s cross past Marko Marosi.

Rovers pressed for an equaliser, with Ironside and Omari Patrick going close, while Marosi denied Woods a second.

Stanley were reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute when Luke Butterfield was sent off for a foul on James Plant.

Tranmere pushed late on, Charlie Whitaker going close, but Accrington held firm, Heath striking the bar in stoppage time before Woods was also dismissed for the visitors in the dying minutes.