Port Vale 3-2 Tranmere Rovers
- Published
Port Vale survived a second-half scare to beat relegation-threatened Tranmere Rovers at Vale Park.
Tom Pope put Vale in front, turning in Adam Yates's cross from close range, loan man Billy Knott doubling the lead with a left-footed shot from 25 yards.
Pope set up Ben Williamson for a third before Tranmere threatened an unlikely comeback with two goals in a minute.
Ash Taylor nodded in a corner and Jason Koumas scored from a free-kick but Vale held on for a first win in three games.
However, they needed goalkeeper Chris Neal - later stretchered off the field following a collision with Rovers substitute Ian Goodison - to make smart saves from Ryan Lowe and Jake Kirby.
Doug Loft also hit the bar for the hosts, who had let a 2-0 lead slip at Coventry in their previous outing.
Tranmere, who are a point outside the drop zone, are yet to win back-to-back games in League One this season.
Tranmere caretaker manager John McMahon told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"The defending was unacceptable. We can't give teams a start.
"For four minutes of the first half and for two minutes of the second half, we were poor. For the rest of the time, we were terrific.
"But we can't defend like that and expect to win games or come away with a point."