TRANMERE burst out of the blocks at Prenton Park breathing the fire and brimstone they most often reserve for visits from the division's top teams.

Perhaps the significance of the three points at stake was sufficient to convince the players that Dagenham and Redbridge were really Peterborough or Southampton in disguise.

The Daggers, not noted for being a team that allow themselves to be outfought, could not stand the heat during the first 45 minutes.

The contest was won and lost before the half-time tea was poured, by which time goals from Enoch Showunmi and Ian Goodison rewarded Rovers' dominance.

Tranmere, a little less assertive after the interval, survived some uncomfortable moments during the second half when the performance sometimes betrayed a shortage of self-confidence.

With a little more belief, you suspect, this team might not have made such hard work of establishing a safe foothold in the division.

But there was no disputing their right to a victory that eliminated most of the anxiety about securing League One status for another season - with five games still to play.

The difference between the teams on the day was that Dagenham could not match the extra edge of quality Tranmere found in key areas: Showunmi's strength, pace and movement up front, the delivery of dangerous balls into the box from Aaron Cresswell, Ian Goodison's commanding work at the heart of the defence and Zoumana Bakayogo's tight control of visiting danger man Danny Green.

Another display along these lines tomorrow night, when free admission for the rearranged game against Notts County is liable to attract a crowd in five figures, would do wonders to encourage new and lapsed supporters into Prenton Park.