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Ronnie Moore had to make three enforced changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Port Vale last weekend, as Ben Chorley, Paul McLaren and Antony Kay all missed the game through injuries and suspension, meaning Chris Shuekr and Steven Jennings returned to the starting line up, whilst Paul Henry also gained a first start for Tranmere. Adnan Ahmed and Gareth Taylor also returned to the startin XI as replacements for Jennison Myrie-Williams and Calvin Zola.
From the off it was obvious that this was going to be a very tight game between two teams both in need of a win for different reasons.
Chances were few and far between, with shooting mainly limited to long range efforts. The pressure was mainly in the Tranmere half of the field, however, Ian Goodison and in particular Paul Henry made some key blocks as they kept the ball away from Danny Coyne's goal.
The first real chance of the game fell to Tranmere's Steven Jennings as the midfielder forced Luton 'keeper Dean Brill into a save from 20-yards with a weak shot whilst on 17-minutes Luton were forced into an early substitution as striker Paul Furlong, scorer of the Hatters goal in their 2-1 defeat to Tranmere earlier in the season, limped off the field, replaced by Calvin Andrew, after falling badly on his ankle when challanging for a header with Shane Sherriff.
Soon after Sherriff blocked a shot from Edwards before Darren Currie's curling effort from outside the area drifted about a foot wide of Danny Coyne's left-hand post.
The Australian Sherriff continued his involvement, this time down the other end, as the Rovers number five vollied an effort just wide of Brill's left-hand post from near the penalty spot after Taylor's good lay off.
However, the action returned down the other end on the half hour mark as Luton had their best effort of the match yet. Darren Currie recieved the ball 30-yards from goal and hit a swerving, powerful, crisp right-footed drive towards goal. Although the shot was straight at Coyne, it was difficult for the Rovers 'keeper to deal with as it swerved through the air, and after the Welsh international had unconvincingly palmed the shot down he scrambled onto the loose ball which was now near the penalty spot.
Tranmere had claims for a penalty late on in the half when Gareth Taylor appeared to be brought down in the area but appeals were waved away by referee Mr. T. Kettle and the half finished as it had started, with very little happening at either end of the field.
At half time Rovers should perhaps have made a substitution. Fielding this 4-5-1 formation, they lacked penetration going forward and Gareth Taylor needed some support upfront. Tranmere also lacked width, particularly on the right, and when you have Gareth Taylor as a loan front man, it is important that you get the ball out to the wings where the wingers can cross it in on Taylor's head.
Ronnie Moore had clearly drilled this into his players at the interval though, as five minuets after the re-start as Chris Shuker made a darting run down the Tranmere left before crossing the ball to Gareth Taylor in the centre who sent a weak cross straight at Brill whilst a few minutes later the ball broke to Ahmed no more than ten yards from goal in the Luton penalty area, but the former Manchester United blasted his shot well over the bar and into the stand of travelling Tranmere fans.
On the hour mark Tranmere had another chance as Steven Jennings recieved the ball on the edge of the area but the midfielder, returning from a one match ban which forced him to miss last weeks 0-0 draw with Port Vale, sliced his shot high and wide of Brill's left hand post.
Despite Tranmere being on top, it was clear that they were going to need to take at least one of their chances. A spell of pressure or at least one good chance was always going to fall Luton's way, and so it proved on 69-minutes.
Rovers allowed Matthew Spring to run all the way down the Tranmere right and he managed to get to near the corner flag before sending in a poor looking cross towards the near post.
Danny Coyne, who has been so good for Tranmere this season, should comfortably have caught the ball. However, Coyne fumbled the ball, dropping at the feet of Edwards who, failing to believe his luck, accepted Coyne's early Christmas present and put the ball into the back of the net, handing Luton an undeserved lead.
Tranmere immediately looked to hit back, and they were now having a good number of chances to level the game up.
Firstly, Chris Shuker made a good run down the left, and after originally losing the ball, he reclaimed it and progressed in to the area. From there, he cut the ball back to Andrew Taylor on the edge of the area, who sent a low, curling effort just wide of Brill's left-hand post with the Luton 'keeper well beaten.
Shortly after, Coyne comfortably saved Edwards' header whilst on 76-minutes, Ronnie Moore looked to change the game by replacing the dissapointing Greenacre and Ahmed with Curran and Myrie-Williams.
The substitution however seemed to draw some of the momentum Tranmere had been building up out of the side. Gareth Taylor seemed to be winning less headers and Craig Curran didn't have a shot at goal whilst he was on the pitch.
Luton started to see more of the ball, and Danny Coyne, all credit to him after his earlier error, made some briliant punches clear when under pressure as well as making one terrific save low down to his right from point blank range for a Luton player, although the move was flagged offside.
On 80-minutes Spring had a shot deflected away for a corner whilst back down the other end, Tranmere should have levelled through Gareth Taylor.
Jennison Myrie-Williams chipped the ball into the area for Jennings, who knocked the ball down to Taylor from near the penalty spot. Taylor moved the ball goalwards with his first shot before hitting a powerful low shot goalwards. However, the shot was too close to 'keeper Brill who dived to his right and made a good save, palming the ball out for a corner which came to nothing.
This was ultimately the last action of the game for Tranmere though as they had to settle for a very unfair defeat in a game which they should have got at least a point.
The result was harsh on Rovers but on current form it was to be expected. However, it is only too easy to be too harsh on Danny Coyne, when in all reality he has kept Rovers out of jail on a number of occasions this season with some terrific saves.
A 1-0 defeat however means Rovers slipped a place in the table to twelfth position. However, with over half the season still left and only a four point gap between Tranmere and the final play-off place, there is still a big chance that Rovers can end in the top six this season.
Jones' Man Of The Match: Steven Jennings in midfield and Andrew Taylor at left-back were good for Tranmere but for me the best player on the park for Tranmere was Paul Henry. The youngster, making his first start for the team, made some terrific blocks and his general defensive play was very good as he proved he was well capable of playing at this level for Tranmere.