Leven penalty earns Dons a point

Peter Leven bagged a goal on his first start back after injury but the Dons failed to hold on to their lead as they bring a point back to Milton Keynes from Prenton Park.

Leven struck from the spot in the 74th minute after Aaron Wilbraham had been fouled by Rovers' Antony Kay, but Terry Gornell scored with his first touch to level the game after coming on as an 81st minute substitute.

Dons probably would have been lucky to come away with all three points from a scrappy affair, with Willy Gueret keeping out Rovers with a couple of good saves in the first half.

What was always going to be a tough game against a side with a home record second only to league leaders Leicester gained even more importance when you considered the difficult March to come for the Dons; as well as next Saturday's clash with the Foxes.

Manager Roberto Di Matteo made three changes to the side that beat Hartlepool United 3-1, with the injured Luke Chadwick dropping out to be replaced by the returning Peter Leven. Flavien Belson also came in to the centre of midfield, with Alan Navarro completing the midfield three and Jemal Johnson and Jason Puncheon supporting the lone frontman Aaron Wilbraham, who replaced Ali Gerba after serving a one match suspension. The back four remained Carl Regan, Jude Stirling, Miguel Llera and Dean Lewington, with Willy Gueret in goal.

But although the steely midfield of Belson and Navarro kept Tranmere at bay for most of the match, Ronnie Moore's three substitutions at a set-piece troubled the Dons' marking setup and Gornell converted Shuker's corner.

Tranmere: Achterberg; Shotton, Chorley, Goodison (Edds 82), Cresswell; Shuker, Jennings, Kay, Barnett (Sonko 80); Moore (Gornell 81), Savage.

Unused subs: Kennedy, Henry.

Goals: Gornell 83.

Dons: Gueret; Regan, Stirling, Llera, Lewington; Puncheon (Baldock 76), Belson, Leven, Navarro, Johnson; Wilbraham.

Unused subs: Abbey, Gerba, O'Hanlon, Howell.

Booked: Navarro.

Goals: Leven pen 74.

Attendance: 5,625.