GARY ROBERTS and Scott Arfield provided the finesse and Alan Lee the force as Huddersfield Town chalked up a third straight home win to go fifth in League I.
Powerful frontman Lee has really come to the fore in recent weeks, and further established himself as a cult hero among Town fans with this muscular performance.
Danny Ward, forced off early after taking a knock to the ankle, Calum Woods, who needed three stitches in a head wound, and Tranmere old boy Antony Kay, who had a tooth dislodged, all sported more obvious evidence that this was a hard-fought victory.
But it was Lee who soaked up the bulk of the physical punishment meted out by the Tranmere defence, allowing his teammates to grab the goal-den glory.
The Irishman went both toe to toe and head to head with rugged Jamaican defender Ian Goodison, who played despite being kept off the training ground by a stomach muscle injury.
It can’t have been comfortable for the combatants, but it was great to watch the two seasoned pros slug it out.
Lee, making his first league start since February, really deserved a goal to reward his endeavours, and would have had one had keeper Owain fon Williams not pulled off a great save to tip his 44th-minute header from Roberts’ cross over the bar.
The Welshman also denied Jordan Rhodes as he put in a low shot early in the second half, Roberts, as he drilled in a curling 66th-minute free-kick, and substitute Lee Novak, who tried his best to force the ball home after Arfield’s 75th-minute effort was blocked.
But the Scotsman wasn’t to be denied his first goal of the season, his beautifully-placed 79th-minute shot from Novak’s low cross coming just at the right time to quash Tranmere’s growing push for a leveller.
Roberts’ fourth of the campaign came in the 24th minute, and it’s interesting that both goals were by players who started the game on the bench, showing the options and strength boss Lee Clark has amassed.
Roberts, who had only been on the field for 14 minutes, had already delivered a couple of teasing balls into the box before counting with a goal to which Lee made a huge contribution.
He won the free-kick which Jack Hunt floated in, and it was his pressure which meant Goodison could only clear as far as the lurking Roberts, who unleashed a sizzling left-foot volley which left the helpless fon Williams grasping thin air.
It was a crucial breakthrough and forced a Tranmere side including Town old boy Lucas Akins to come out of their shell.
Town were thankful Adam McGurk could only manage a fresh-air shot from Akins’ 36th-minute long throw.
But the home side, with Woods impressing at left-back and Kay and Jamie McCombe combining effectively in central defence, were pretty solid, and had chances to extend their lead.
McCombe’s 27th-minute header from Roberts corner was cleared off the line by Goodison and Kay nodded just wide from another flag kick in the 31st minute, before fon Williams foiled Lee as he met another Roberts delivery.
Town were back on the attack at the start of the second half, and after Rhodes’ shot was saved, Hunt drilled a 20-yard effort narrowly over.
Tranmere, who had claims for a penalty when Akins went down under Woods’ 64th-minute challenge waved away by referee Chris Sarginson, had a good spell midway through the half, when Ian Bennett made solid stops to deny John Welsh and Max Power.
But Town were still threatening, and after Roberts came close with his free-kick, Novak was narrowly wide after Lee flicked on Hunt’s cross, before Lee headed over from Roberts’ ball in.
Busy Novak was left beating the ground in frustration when fon Williams denied him, but having been freed by Roberts’ pass down the left, had the satisfaction of teeing up Arfield, who picked his spot to clinch the points.
