Rovers survived a barrage of early pressure before scoring the decisive goal through Bobby Faulkner’s glancing header late in the first half.

Northampton had a flurry of early chances as Rovers goalkeeper Luke McGee kept out both Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Owen Dale while Matty Warhurst also went close.

Dale squandered a glorious opportunity midway through the first half, slashing wide with the goal at his mercy, and it was Tranmere who then struck against the run of play when defender Faulkner headed in Will Vaulks’ 37th-minute corner.

Warhurst and O’Brien-Whitmarsh both had shots blocked at the start of the second half but Northampton huffed and puffed without creating many clear-cut chances.

Tranmere managed the game well and defended stoutly, limiting their hosts to a couple of speculative efforts late on to see out their first win on the road this season.