NO thrilling comeback this time, as Hartlepool United fell to defeat at Tranmere Rovers.

After coming from behind to win the opener against Bradford, Pool lost out in a thrilling game at Prenton Park last night.

A Hugh Robertson special put Pool in front, before two goals turned the game around in favour of Brian Little's side.

And, despite playing the last 23 minutes with an extra man after one of the harshest dismissals you will see, there was no way back.

It wasn't for the want of trying as Pool threw bodies forward in numbers, but couldn't break down a bank of white shirts when a welter of late chances went begging.

Pool were given a scare just four minutes in when Chris Westwood, with plenty of time, lost his balance and misplaced his clearance only for Micky Nelson to provide cover.

Nelson was dominant early on, intercepting at will as he came up against the physical threat of Eugene Dadi.

But the defender was beaten by Chris Dagnall in the area on ten minutes and the shot was straight into Jim Provett's midriff.

Dagnall was a lively customer and he turned Westwood on the edge of the area, with Provett coming out to smother.

Joel Porter won Pool's first corner as he put Ian Sharps under pressure. Adam Boyd's curler was flapped away by John Achterberg.

And the Tranmere keeper was flapping at thin air on 21 minutes. Robertson lined up for a free-kick 30 yards out and there was only one place it was going as he bent it around the wall for his second set-piece goal in as many games.

Five minutes later, Eugene Dadi slipped under a challenge from Nelson and referee Mark Atkinson swiftly pointed to the spot. Ryan Taylor sent Provett the wrong way.

At the other end, it was almost advantage Pool again. Tony Sweeney crossed from the right, Ritchie Humphreys knocked it back and it rolled across the face of goal with no-one to touch in.

Handball on the edge of the area led to another chance for Robertson, but he slipped and smacked his shot into the wall, then Humphreys' goal-bound shot from 15 yards was deflected wide.

A flowing move, started by former Sunderland midfielder and now Rovers' captain Jason McAteer saw Paul Hall cross and Dagnall slid a volley wide.

McAteer's job was to keep things simple for his new side, each time he got the ball it was moved on and he rarely ventured into either penalty area. Pool boss Neale Cooper probably covered more ground in the first-half pacing up and down his technical area outside the dug out.

And, without Martin Scott, his right-hand man who is serving a touchline ban after being sent to the stands in the final league game of last season at Swindon, Cooper had the shouting of two men to do.

But the Pool boss looked on from afar as a worried man when Dadi curled a teasing ball past the Pool defence and across the six-yard box which ran out of play.

It took a strong block by Mark Tinkler to stop a Dadi shot eight yards out and the Pool midfielder was booked after sliding in and upending the dramatic McAteer.

But the Scouser started coming into his own as the pressure increased on Pool. And when Rovers broke away, Dadi's pass found Dagnall and his low shot hit Provett, but spun into the far side.

Referee Atkinson decided Dagnall's celebrations behind the goal were too excessive and booked the scorer, before harshly flashing a red card after booking the striker in the first-half.

And some people wonder why officials are berated week in, week out. It was Dagnall's first senior goal; common sense doesn't come into it.

Jack Ross was taken off as Pool went 3-4-3 in search of a leveller. Kevin Betsy came on and his first touch was a turning shot at goal saved by Achterberg at full-stretch with his leg.

Robertson thumped a 35-yard shot inches wide and Sweeney's teasing cross evaded Betsy by inches, Nelson's shot was blocked on it's way in and Betsy pushed a shot wide from close range.

Read more about Hartlepool here.