Tranmere Rovers 1 Carlisle United 0: Travelling Carlisle fans vented their anger at Mike Williamson and the team after another damaging defeat.

Supporters sang, 'You're getting sacked in the morning' to the Blues head coach as Cameron Norman's first-half goal for Tranmere consigned them to defeat.

United are now six points adrift of safety at the bottom of League Two after losing to one of their closest rivals.

Carlisle once again failed to rise to the occasion on a day new signings Elliot Embleton and Callum Whelan made their debuts.

The only goal came in the 23rd minute when Norman beat Cameron Harper to a cross to volley past Gabe Breeze.

Mike Williamson faced more flak from travelling fans (Image: Richard Parkes)

United's keeper prevented Tranmere scoring more while Carlisle could not take their best chances, which fell to Daniel Adu-Adjei, Kadeem Harris and Aaron Hayden.

A second successive defeat increased Carlisle's serious relegation worries as the second half of a troubled season got under way.

Williamson handed Embleton and Whelan immediate debuts after the midfielders signed for the Blues this week.

They featured in four changes by the United head coach following Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to Crewe Alexandra, Harris and Hayden also recalled.

Dropping to the bench were Jack Ellis, Harrison Neal, Ben Barclay and Adu-Adjei. United were, meanwhile, without Jordan Jones, who was absent from the squad, with Tyler Burey also not involved.

Tranmere boss Adkins made one change as Norman came in for Sol Solomon. Omari Patrick started while fellow ex-Blues man Kristian Dennis was a substitute.

United's side saw Harper revert to left wing-back from his recent midfield role, with Dominic Sadi on the right. Whelan started in midfield alongside Harrison Biggins, with Embleton and Harris in attacking midfield behind striker Luke Armstrong.

Debutant Callum Whelan in possession (Image: Richard Parkes)

Tranmere had early penalty shouts turned down when Norman's handball appeals were dismissed by ref Seb Stockbridge.

Kieron Morris then shot wide when teed up by Norman, who had got away from Whelan on the home right.

United then grew into the contest and enjoyed a good spell of possession in the home half.

Whelan was involved at the start and end of one bright move, the new signing arriving in the box to shoot wide on the turn.

Harris then tested keeper Luke McGee from distance.

United's dominance in this spell was leading to frustration for home fans, but Tranmere threatened through Zak Bradshaw, who was denied from a narrow angle by Gabe Breeze, and Harvey Saunders, whose header was saved by Carlisle's keeper.

The Blues' goal, though, was not coming under serious threat - until Carlisle's slack defending let the hosts in after 23 minutes.

United failed to intercept an attack down the home left as Bradshaw fed Morris, who was untracked as he crossed for Norman, who got in front of Harper to turn the ball past Breeze and into the bottom corner.

Carlisle were on the back foot after the goal and lost their way in attacking terms as Tranmere grew in confidence.

Kadeem Harris shoots (Image: Richard Parkes)

Patrick spun and tested Breeze from the edge of the box, before Carlisle's keeper had to produce a sharp save to keep out Saunders' diving header.

United then allowed Morris to run through the middle of the park to shoot, with Breeze saving the deflected attempt, before Harris wriggled free at the other end but couldn't find the target under pressure from Lee O'Connor's challenge.

Half-time brought boos from some in the away end, and United were facing a big second 45 minutes.

Williamson switched Jon Mellish to wing-back, moving Harper into the back three, with Tranmere first to threaten in the second half as Patrick had a shot blocked.

Carlisle came back into things before the hour mark when Aaron Hayden, after a short corner, saw a header cleared off the line.

United then made a double change with Adu-Adjei and Neal replacing Biggins and Harper.

Patrick, who had been booed by some of the travelling fans, was then replaced by Josh Davison in the first Tranmere change.

And Carlisle then came close to a leveller amid an improved spell, Whelan first denied by McGee, then the Tranmere keeper saving well when Adu-Adjei looked set to score.

Daniel Adu-Adjei shows his frustration after being denied (Image: Richard Parkes)

Harris had a shot blocked after an Embleton corner as Carlisle continued attacking, Williamson then sending on Anton Dudik for his first league outing of the season in the closing stages.

Adkins had by then introduced Dennis against his former club and the striker went close six minutes from time with a powerful low shot from the edge of the box.

At the other end, Dudik saw a shot blocked, before an aimless United pass promoted frustrated fans to sing, 'You're getting sacked in the morning' in the direction of Williamson, followed by, 'You don't know what you're doing.'

Harris, with a driving run, earned a corner, as did Armstrong later, but Whelan's poor deliveries led to more boos from the away end.

And fans again vented their anger with more jeering and songs against Williamson after the final whistle as Carlisle's relegation worries deepened, the result seeing Tranmere move seven points clear of the rock-bottom Blues.

Tranmere: McGee, O’Connor, Davies, Turnbull, Norman, Bradshaw, Morris (Khan 74), Finley, Patrick (Davison 63), Saunders (Dennis 74), Jennings. Not used: Murphy, Solomon, Wood, Drysdale.

Goal: Norman 23.

Booked: Patrick, Finley, Norman.

United: Breeze, Hayden, Lavelle, Mellish, Harper (Adu-Adjei 58), Sadi, Biggins (Neal 58), Whelan, Embleton (Dudik 79), Harris, Armstrong. Not used: Smith, Charters, Ellis, Barclay.

Booked: Hayden.

Ref: Seb Stockbridge.

Crowd: 6,866 (1,286 United fans).