With regular keeper Owain fon Williams called up by Wales and his deputy, Lloyd Rigby, injured they found a last-minute replacement in Leicester City's Conrad Logan.
He played 34 games for them last season and kept a clean sheet in around half of them. This time he was beaten twice in the first half and Stockport, who were fifth in the table at Christmas, before a cash crisis hit them hard, now have that sinking feeling.
None more so than defender James Tunnicliffe, who took the blame for both goals. He gave away a free-kick for the first goal and then stretched out an arm in the penalty box for the second. His game ended at half-time.
Logan, meanwhile, shook off his match-rustiness look with a brilliant dive to the foot of his right post, to keep out Jo Kuffour at the start of the half.
With a new 4-3-3 style, Rovers always looked the likely winners without finding the finishing power to ram their advantage home.
Their breakthrough goal, after just four minutes, was down to three of their defenders. Stuart Campbell swung in a long free-kick after Tunnicliffe's misjudged challenge and central defender Steve Elliott was waiting outside the far post to head it back across goal. His partner, Byron Anthony, provided the finishing volley.
Tunnicliffe pleaded accidental contact for the penalty and certainly Kuffour's cross-drive from the left of goal was going nowhere.
Equally certainly his arm had moved to touch the ball. Rickie Lambert duly thumped his season's 25th goal past the keeper's left shoulder.
Stockport were always neat in their approach play but persisted with just one man, Chris O'Grady, up front as they chased the game. The closest they came to scoring was a header from substitute Josh Thompson, a move set up by Matty McNeil.