Tranmere Rovers 3-1 Orient

Two goals from Tranmere debutant Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro earnt Rovers a victory and brought Orient crashing back down to earth after an impressive midweek win against Charlton Athletic.

Russell Slade continued with his 4-1-2-1-2 formation and made one sole change from the starting XI that dumped last season's League One champions, Charlton, out of the Capital One Cup. Scouse goalkeeper Jamie Jones was back in the starting line up, replacing Ryan Allsop despite Allsop putting in an impressive performance at The Valley that included a penalty save in the shootout.

Tranmere's opening goal came from the back. Owain Fon Williams in the Tranmere goal collected a weak header from Scott Cuthbert and was quick to pump a ball long towards Jake Cassidy, the Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee held off the advancing Lloyd James, controlled the ball and placed a through ball to Zoumana Bakayogo, who had tore down the wing unchallenged, and placed a shot under Jones in the Orient goal.

Orient's best chance of the half and game fell to David Mooney. The Irishman controlled a high ball, turned and poked a shot towards Fon Williams who managed to push the ball round the post.

The second half was a non contest and the home side dominated, with the stats heavily in their favour. Shots on and off target were in the Wirral sides favour but the most alarming statistic to come from Prenton Park was the percentage of possession both sides had. Tranmere had a massive 75% of possession, whilst Slade's charges had just 25% of the ball.

The second Rovers goal, and Akpa-Akpro's first was something special. The summer signing recieved a pass from a teammate, dragged the ball wide of Mathieu Baudry and fired an excellent shot past the helpless Jones on his return to Merseyside.

Another of Tranmere's summer signings had a hand in debutant Akpa-Akpro's second and Tranmere's third. James Wallace, signed from Everton during the summer, delivered a cross from the right and the cross beat Nathan Clarke but not Akpa-Akpro, who's header squirmed through Jones' legs.

It was the third time in as many years that Orient lost their opening game of the season, with yesterday's debacle adding to away defeats at Walsall and Yeovil Town.

Orient;

Jamie Jones, Lloyd James, Nathan Clarke (c), Scott Cuthbert (Ben Chorley 48), Mathieu Baudry, Anthony Griffith, Jimmy Smith, Dean Cox, Kevin Lisbie (Michael Symes 69), David Mooney (Ryan Brunt 70).

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