Late goals from Charlie Whittaker and Alassana Jatta fired promotion-chasing Notts County to a 2-1 win over Tranmere in League Two.

Nigel Adkins’ side, who saw substitute Kristian Dennis grab a consolation effort, were the better side for long periods.

But they were made to pay for failing to exploit their superiority and remain in deep trouble at the other end of the table.

Despite entering the contest without a win in eight, Rovers carried a threat.

Omari Patrick tested Alex Bass after combining with Jake Garrett before Josh Davison fired over from the edge of the box.

Sam Finley and Chris Merrie were also presented with opportunities to hand Adkins’ men the advantage.

Cameron Norman appeared to have done exactly that after meeting a cross by the influential Garrett only for Bass to again intervene.

If Norman could attribute that miss to the County goalkeeper’s agility, he had only himself to blame on the stroke of half-time after heading wide from close range.

Whittaker and Jatta punished those misses with clinical 80th and 83rd-minute finishes from Mai Traore assists before Dennis’ 88th-minute consolation.