Match report

Accrington ST Defeats Tranmere 1-0 in League Two Clash

Tranmere
Tranmere
0–1
FT
Accrington ST
Accrington ST
Feb 17, 2026

Accrington Stanley stunned Tranmere Rovers with a late goal by Paul Madden to secure a crucial 1-0 win at Prenton Park in the League Two fixture. Despite being reduced to ten men early in the second half, Accrington held on, thanks largely to a solid defensive effort and key substitutions that helpe

Key Facts

  • • Final score: Tranmere 0–1 Accrington ST
  • • Goal: P. Madden (48') - Assisted by Isaac Heath
  • • Yellow Cards: D. Love (Accrington), L. Warrington (Tranmere), P. Madden (Accrington), Isaac Heath (Accrington)
  • • Red Card: L. Butterfield (Accrington) - foul at 63'
  • • Substitutions: Tranmere brought on C. Norman, N. Smith, and S. Negru; Accrington replaced Sam Conneely with A. Henderson

Lineups

Tranmere

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 33 Marko Maroši (G)
  • 28 Stephan Negru (D)
  • 5 Nathan Smith (D)
  • 3 Patrick Brough (D)
  • 26 James Plant (M)
  • 8 Sam Finley (M)
  • 25 Lewis Warrington (M)
  • 11 Omari Patrick (M)
  • 7 Charlie Whitaker (F)
  • 32 Zech Obiero (F)
  • 29 Joe Ironside (F)

Substitutes

  • 2 Cameron Norman
  • 16 Jason Lowe
  • 9 Kristian Dennis
  • 31 Max Dickov
  • 12 Jack Barrett
  • 30 Aaron McGowan
  • 42 Nohan Kenneh

Accrington ST

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 13 Oliver Wright (G)
  • 2 Donald Love (D)
  • 5 Farrend Rawson (D)
  • 3 Freddie Sass (D)
  • 38 Connor O'Brien (M)
  • 10 Alex Henderson (M)
  • 24 Luke Butterfield (M)
  • 30 Isaac Heath (M)
  • 7 Shaun Whalley (F)
  • 8 Paddy Madden (F)
  • 39 Josh Woods (F)

Substitutes

  • 28 Seamus Conneely
  • 1 Michael Kelly
  • 27 David Ogundele Abimbola
  • 25 Joshua Smith
  • 20 Charlie Brown
  • 26 Charlie Hall

Timeline

  1. Accrington ST
    29' Accrington ST Card · Yellow Card
    D. Love

    Foul

  2. Accrington ST
    48' Accrington ST Goal · Normal Goal
    P. Madden · Assist: Isaac Heath
  3. Tranmere
    51' Tranmere Card · Yellow Card
    L. Warrington

    Foul

  4. Accrington ST
    63' Accrington ST Card · Red Card
    L. Butterfield

    Foul

  5. Accrington ST
    69' Accrington ST subst · Substitution 1
    Off: A. Henderson · On: S. Conneely
  6. Tranmere
    72' Tranmere subst · Substitution 1
    Off: L. Warrington · On: C. Norman
  7. Tranmere
    72' Tranmere subst · Substitution 2
    Off: N. Smith · On: Jason Lowe
  8. Tranmere
    72' Tranmere subst · Substitution 3
    Off: S. Negru · On: K. Dennis
  9. Accrington ST
    80' Accrington ST Card · Yellow Card
    P. Madden

    Foul

  10. Accrington ST
    90'+1 Accrington ST Card · Yellow Card
    Isaac Heath

    Time wasting

  11. Accrington ST
    90'+5 Accrington ST Card · Red Card
    J. Woods

    Violent conduct

  12. Tranmere
    90' Tranmere subst · Substitution 4
    Off: C. Norman · On: M. Dickov

Match Stats

Stat Tranmere Accrington ST
Fouls 7 10
Pass Accuracy 74% 61%
Offsides 1 1
Red Cards 0 2
Total Shots 18 13
Corners 7 1
Total Passes 452 239
Yellow Cards 1 3
Blocked Shots 6 3
Shots on Target 2 6
xG — —
Shots off Target 10 4
Possession 66% 34%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 335 145
Shots Inside Box 12 10
Saves 5 2
Shots Outside Box 6 3

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ At the 48th minute, Paul Madden's goal for Accrington ST broke Tranmere’s resolve.
  • ▸ The dismissal of L. Butterfield from Accrington ST at the 63rd minute shifted momentum towards Tranmere, but Accrington held on with a strong defensive stand.