Tranmere Rovers earned a 1-1 draw against Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium as Will Vaulks’ second-half equaliser denied the hosts a first home league win for seven months.

Dylan Morgan put Crawley ahead seven minutes after half-time with a half-volley that went in off the underside of the crossbar, but Vaulks levelled on the hour with a deflected low effort following good work by Tom Ince.

The result meant Crawley, who sit bottom of the table, claimed only their second home point of the season in Kevin Blackwell’s first game in interim charge following the midweek sacking of Colin Kazim-Richards.

Blackwell admitted there was “a lot to lose” given the club’s position but insisted there was enough quality in the squad to turn things around.

The hosts threatened in the opening minute when Morgan struck from outside the penalty area, with Luke McGee alert to parry the goal-bound effort over the crossbar.

Tranmere responded in the 11th minute when Joel Senior cut a low cross back to top scorer Dylan Jones, whose firm, low strike was kept out by former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Six minutes later, Jacob Slater played Ince through on the left of the penalty area, but Mannone quickly came off his line to close down the Rovers forward and deny him.

Crawley continued to threaten, and Slater was called upon defensively in the 24th minute to head Jude Arthurs’ goal-bound effort clear.

McGee then came to Tranmere’s rescue shortly before the interval with two important saves. He first denied Stephen Duke-McKenna from point-blank range before keeping out Morgan’s effort towards the bottom-left corner with his foot.

Rovers went into half-time level, with Charlie Whitaker replacing Jones for the second half.

However, Crawley made the breakthrough seven minutes after the restart. A free-kick from Kellan Gordon was only partially cleared, allowing Morgan to lash a half-volley from the right of the penalty area against the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

The goal was Morgan’s third in three games and gave Blackwell’s side the lead at 1-0.

Tranmere responded well and drew level on the hour mark. Ince backheeled the ball into the path of captain Vaulks, whose sweeping, low effort took a deflection and flew beyond Mannone, who was left rooted to the spot.

With the scores level, Rovers pushed for a winner as the game entered its closing stages.

With three-quarters of the match played, Jonny Russell’s header looked capable of restoring Crawley’s advantage, but Tranmere cleared the effort off the line to keep the scores level.

Six minutes from time, Whitaker came close to completing the turnaround when he met an opportunity with a header from inside the six-yard box, only for Mannone to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Despite their late pressure, Tranmere were unable to find a winning goal, and the sides shared the points at the Broadfield Stadium.

Match Highlights – To follow…

Post Match Interview – To follow…