Ten-man Town fell to a 4-0 loss at Tranmere - on a day where luck deserted Michael Appleton's side.

Taylan Harris, Josh Davison, Omari Patrick and Kristian Dennis got the goals for the hosts - with Davison and Patrick both scoring with brilliant efforts from distance.

After going in at the break 2-0 down, Salop looked to be finding a route back into the game as the second half progressed.

But Will Boyle received two yellow cards in quick succession just before the hour mark.

And with a man advantage, Tranmere went on to wrap up the points with goals from Patrick and Dennis.

Team news: 

Boss Appleton named an unchanged side from the opening day clash against Bromley.

It meant Town continued in a 3-5-2 formation with Toby Savin in goal and Tom Anderson, Sam Stubbs and Boyle making up the back three.

Luca Hoole and George Nurse continued at wing-back with Sam Clucas joined by Harrison Biggins and Alex Gilliead in midfield.

Up front, John Marquis was partnered by Anthony Scully.

Tranmere lined up in a 3-4-3 system with Patrick and Davison operating either side of Harris in attack.

There was also a place in central midfield for former Town man Nohan Kenneh.

Report:

The encounter at Prenton Park started brightly with Tranmere creating the game's first chance in the ninth minute.

After a spell of pressure, the ball broke kindly for Davison who was centrally placed just 12 yards from goal.

He, though, drilled a low strike that flew wide of the post.

Town hit back with Clucas letting fly with an effort from outside the box that also flashed wide.

However, what followed was a disastrous three-minute spell that saw Town concede not once, but twice.

The hosts opened the scoring when some lovely footwork from Patrick allowed Charlie Whitaker to get to the byline.

And he then sent in a cross that was swept home by Harris.

Then just moments later, the ball broke for Davison on the edge of the box.

And he did incredibly well to get a shot away that nestled perfectly into the bottom right corner.

With all the momentum with them, Tranmere almost made it three before the half-hour mark.

Patrick let fly with a ferocious hit from 20 yards. But at full stretch, Savin managed to tip the ball onto the post. 

Not happy with what he had seen, Appleton made three changes at the break with Taylor Perry, Tom Sang and George Lloyd all entering the fray.

Biggins, Gilliead and Scully were the men to make way. 

Salop immediately looked better for the changes - with Clucas seeing an effort from the edge of the box blocked following the restart.

Perry then let fly with an effort from 20 yards that goalkeeper Lee McGee tipped over the bar.

Salop looked like they were finding a route back into the game.

But just before the hour mark, their hopes of a fightback were dealt a huge blow when Boyle picked up two yellow cards in quick succession.

Despite being down to 10, Town still tried to push forward with Perry seeing another decent effort claimed by McGee.

But in the 74th minute, the hosts got a third when Patrick beat Savin with a brilliant effort from outside the box.

Substitute Dennis then wrapped up the scoring with a close-range finish late on.

Teams:

Tranmere: McGee, Norman, Brough, Smith, Smallwood (Lowe 79), Whitaker (Turnball 70), Davison (Dennis 64), Patrick, O’Connor, Harris (Jennings 64), Kenneh (Blacker 79).

Subs not used: Turnbull, Murphy, Solomon. 

Shrewsbury: Savin, Hoole, Stubbs, Anderson, Boyle, Nurse, Clucas (Stewart 80), Biggins (Perry 46), Gilliead (Sang 46), Marquis, Scully (Lloyd 46). 

Subs not used: Nsiala, Benning, England.

Attendance: 7,626 (1,128 away).