A livid Steve Evans was left questioning another week where penalties were given against his Stevenage side but not for - as they slipped to defeat at home against Tranmere Rovers.

Josh Hawkes got the only goal of the game from the spot after a foul by Daryl Horgan as the side from Wirral left the Lamex with a 1-0 win.

That was with 16 minutes to go but within five minutes Boro had two huge shouts of their own, neither of which were given.

It continues a month where Boro have seen decisions go against them, compounding their run of five games now without a victory.

The Comet: Steve Evans was furious his side wasn't awarded two penalties. Picture: DAVID LOVEDAY/TGS PHOTOSteve Evans was furious his side wasn't awarded two penalties. Picture: DAVID LOVEDAY/TGS PHOTO (Image: David Loveday/TGS Photo)

Evans said: "I got an email in the week saying the one given against us at Newport wasn’t a penalty.

"There’s looks a penalty, I’ll have a look back, but it looks a penalty but there are two clear penalties for us in the second half. 

"How he doesn’t give the one on Kane Smith is beyond belief and the second one is a handball. 

"It’s harsh on us because they have not had too many efforts on our goal, I can’t remember my goalkeeper making a save in all honesty. 

"There were a couple of balls across the box when we were chasing the game but other than that [nothing]."

The result was not one that seemed likely as Stevenage dominated possession and territory, especially in the first-half.

They struggled to test the visiting goalkeeper though and by the time the intensity and urgency was raised to boiling point, they were behind.

Evans said: "We said at half-time, just be a bit more composed and have a bit more quality because our goalkeeper has been a passenger.

"I'm not saying we’ve have played well today but I have to put that in context, we were by far the better side. 

"I don’t know what the stats were but it was incredible. 

"We needed a bit more quality and that’s why we introduced the players we did [four subs together on 66 minutes]. It should work. 

"There was 70-odd minutes on the clock when Kane goes down and that changes the outcome from losing to something more than a draw because we were that dominant. 

"We can beat teams in this league and we have to be better but we cannot beat a referee. 

"It’s hard to say he hasn’t influenced the game but he has in a major way.

"It’s my job and the job of the staff to lift the players. 

"Our players should win the game. If it’s based on everything about football, we should win."