SATURDAY’S win over Southampton was labelled as a coupon buster by their manager but after last night’s defeat Tranmere must have been the side feeling flat broke.

There was to be no second odds-defying win in the space of a week for Rovers as Leeds United romped to victory with a performance which spoke volumes in their billing as a Championship team in the offing.

Rovers’ concerns are of course centred on the other end of the division and avoiding life in League Two, and though they were ultimately overpowered by the former Premier League side Les Parry’s men offered their usual levels of total commitment – however that is sometimes insufficient against teams of such quality.

In front of the biggest attendance of the season, the visit of second-placed Leeds would unlikely to have been a fixture the manager was targeting for a win and one which should have little bearing on their fate come the end of the season.

However the level of hope the long-serving physio has brought to the club will have left the home faithful with a twinge of disappointment and that the first consecutive wins of Parry’s reign could not be achieved, particularly as they hauled themselves back into the contest after going 2-0 down.

But the ultimate decimation at the hands of Simon Grayson’s men is little to be ashamed of as Manchester United have fallen victim to the Yorkshiremen already this season.

And though Oldham Athletic leapfrogged Rovers with a win over Leyton Orient, the Wirral side are in 20th position and out of trouble for the time being.

Tranmere were unchanged from the weekend’s 2-1 win over Southampton as they looked to avenge August’s 3-0 defeat at Elland Road – a scoreline the manager admits could have reached double figures.

Prior to the game, Leeds had embarked on a run of just two wins in 11 league games in contrast to Rovers’ form which had seen them win three and draw one of their last six. The 2,000-strong away contingent made for a vociferous atmosphere in the stands, one which was mirrored on the pitch in a blistering opening half.

Craig Curran stung the palms of Leeds keeper Casper Ankergren, giving the home following early hope, with a vicious strike but it would be Leeds who struck first, in a manner which will have had Tranmere manager Parry looking to the heavens for help.

Robert Snodgrass’ whipped free-kick, after a foul by Zoumana Bakayogo, into the area somehow pierced a crowd of players before nestling into Luke Daniels’ bottom right-hand corner for the brand of goal Rovers could do without having inflicted upon them in their bid for League One survival.

If the opener was luckless then conceding the second goal on 16 minutes came about when Paul McLaren hit the self-destruct button.

The defender dived in recklessly as Gary McSheffrey burst into the area to give Leeds a penalty; top scorer Jermaine Beckford struck clinically from the penalty spot for his 26th goal of the season.

But four minutes later and Tranmere did themselves a favour, albeit with the aid of some generous Leeds defending, when John Welsh hammered in from close range to make it 2-1.

It was a goal which gave Rovers something to cling onto as they were called upon to thwart attacks of increasing menace with Leeds playing some smooth football.

And it was from their most flowing move of the game from which Leeds’ third goal, and the fatal blow, arrived – and it was the usual architects involved in its composition.

Snodgrass found Beckford down the right flank before the forward found his strike partner Luciano Becchio with a measured cross which the Argentine duly dispatched with a diving header.

Baz Savage was introduced by Parry at half-time and gave the Tranmere frontline a renewed focus.

The burly striker’s presence caused uncertainty in the Leeds area and Paul Doyle survived strong claims for a penalty when he handled in the area, but referee Shoebridge dismissed the home protestations.

But as Tranmere pushed forward for a route back in, Leeds became a threat on the break and demonstrated their clinical edge just after the hour when Jonathan Howson’s ball over the top was latched onto by Beckford who lobbed Daniels with style to add a fourth.

Rovers will just have to hope their numbers come in at Bristol Rovers.