Kemal Izzet salvaged a late point for Colchester United against ten-man Tranmere Rovers at Layer Road.
The visitors had taken the lead in the first half thanks to a splendid header from Frenchman Eugene Dadi, but their cause was hampered by their skipper Micky Mellon being sent off in first half stoppage time.
Dadi had struck on 27 minutes with a deft header following a precision cross from Gareth Roberts.
But they suffered a blow when midfielder Mellon was shown a second yellow card and ensuing red card for a foul on Wayne Andrews in the first minute of first half stoppage time. Mellon had earlier been booked for a foul on Joe Keith.
It was backs to the wall for ten-man Tranmere after the break, and they had to survive several near misses.
Keeper John Achterberg made a string of fine saves, including an excellent one to deny Scott McGleish. Achterberg arched back to fingertip McGleish's header over the bar.
Izzet had a goal disallowed for offside when he bundled home a loose ball, and the U's luck was summed up when another effort from McGleish was half-blocked by keeper Achterberg with Ryan Taylor on hand to hack the rebound off the goal-line.
Just when it seemed as though a goal would never come for Colchester, up popped Izzet with his first goal of the season.
Sam Stockley won a free-kick and when Keith squared for Thomas Pinault, his cross-cum-shot was flicked home by the head of Izzet.
That meant that the last five fixtures between these two clubs had ended in draws.
Colchester have now won just one of their last ten league fixtures, while Tranmere have still only won once away in the league this season, at Grimsby in November.