Rob Hulse came off the bench to inspire Crewe to a second-half comeback as they won the First Division basement battle against rock-bottom Tranmere.

Hulse fired Crewe into the lead on 64 minutes after Steve Macauley had headed home Shaun Smith's 62nd-minute corner to level Andy Parkinson's first-half strike for Rovers.

Colin Little then made sure of the three points with eight minutes to go, Parkinson deflecting the shot past his own keeper.

Hulse was only playing after fellow youngster Dean Ashton was stretchered off following a 30th-minute collision with on-rushing goalkeeper John Achterberg.

But he made an impact with his goal as he rifled home David Wright's long pass to complete a crazy two minutes that left Rovers shellshocked.

Parkinson had given Tranmere the lead on the stroke of half-time as he latched on to Gareth Roberts' pass before slipping the ball inside the far post beyond the outstretched arms of keeper Ademole Bankole.

Richard Jobson had earlier almost gifted Crewe a first-minute lead. Mark Rivers pounced on the defender's weak back pass but his chip over the onrushing keeper was cleared by Steve Yates.

Tranmere recovered to mount most of the early pressure with Wayne Allison heading over Stuart Barlow's cross and Graham Allen forcing a fingertip save from Bankole.

Referee Barry Knight denied unlucky Rovers what looked to be a certain penalty when Steve Foster tripped Jason Koumas as the forward ghosted across the six-yard box.

Tranmere's physical presence and well-drilled offside trap continued to confound Crewe in the opening stages.

The home side were restricted to a Little header and Ashton's long-range piledriver in the first 20 minutes.

Crewe themselves could have gone into the break ahead but Richard Hinds made a timely challenge to deny Rivers after the hitman had slipped past Barlow into the box.

Crewe came out fighting in the second half and fluffed a golden chance to level straight after the break.

Little found Hulse in space but the youngster's slow reaction gave Jobson a chance to clear.

The home side were also denied a late penalty when Little looked to have been tripped in the box but the referee waved play on.

And minutes later Hulse shrugged off Allen for a one-on-one with Achterberg but he could only fire at the advancing keeper.

Minutes later Hulse netted and Little completed the job to earn a valuable three points for Dario Gradi's side, who are now four points above the relegation zone.