Walsall returned to League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to the Wirral and took on Tranmere Rovers in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Prenton Park.Walsall got the action underway, and within two minutes, had created their first chance of the afternoon, as a long throw from Priestley Farquharson found Jamille Matt in the centre of the area, but the strikers header goal-wards was well saved by Tranmere 'keeper, Jack Barrett.
The Saddlers continued to press, with Brandon Comley crossing the ball in for Jamie Jellis, in the fourth minute, but the midfielders headed effort had too much height on it, and looped over the crossbar.
Things settled a little as play continued, with Tranmere growing into the game, though neither side were able to create any clear cut chances on goal.
Tranmere won a corner in the seventeenth minute, as Aden Flint headed the ball out of play, but nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Walsall shot-stopper, Myles Roberts was on hand to gather.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the twentieth minute, allowing Ethan Bristow and Jellis to receive attention from their respective clubs medics, following a collision, but both were, fortunately, able to continue.
Walsall won a corner, in the twenty-third minute, as Bristow turned the ball behind, but Jack Barrett was able to gather Evan Weir's ball in, at the second time of asking.
The visiting side won another corner in the twenty-sixth minute, as the ball was blocked behind by William Tamen. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as the ball went straight out of play.
Rovers found themselves with a chance to open the scoring, in the twenty-ninth minute, as Bristow raced into the box before firing goal-wards, but the ball sailed harmlessly wide of the far post.
The Saddlers were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Alex Pattison looked to play in Daniel Kanu, but the strikers' effort on goal, from outside the area, was blocked.
Walsall won a corner, in the thirty-eighth minute, as Nathan Smith knocked the ball out of play. The ball in from Weir found the head of Priestley Farquharson, who turned the ball home from close range to open the scoring.
The hosts looked to respond to falling a goal behind, but Sam Finley's forty-second minute from just outside the box, sailed high over the crossbar.
Connor Barrett became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Aaron McGowan, in the forty-third minute.
Walsall doubled their advantage, in the forty-fifth minute, as Pattison played the ball on for Kanu, who rounded Jack Barrett and coolly fired home.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Tranmere were presented with a chance to pull a goal back, as they won a free-kick on the edge of the area, but they were unable to take advantage. The teams headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments, with Walsall leading by two-goals-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Tranmere got the action back underway. Walsall began the second-half brightly, winning a corner just two minutes in, as Tamen turned the ball out of play. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as Jack Barrett gathered.
The hosts soon had the ball at the other end, as Charlie Whitaker played the ball through for Connor Jennings, but the strikers effort on goal was blocked.
There was a brief halt to proceedings, in the fiftieth minute, allowing Finley to receive attention from the Rovers medics, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Things settled after that, with much of the action contained within the midfield area, with neither side able to create anything of note.
Walsall won a corner, in the fifty-ninth minute, as Tamen turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of it, as Weir's ball in was tipped over the bar by Jack Barrett, with the resulting flag-kick also coming to nothing.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, Walsall added to their tally as Flint crossed the ball into the area for Matt, who rose well to head home into the bottom corner.
The Saddlers could have added a fourth goal, just two minutes after the third, as Vincent Harper crossed the ball to Kanu, but the strikers effort sailed wide of the target.
The visiting side continued to play well, winning a couple of corners, though there were no further clear-cut chances of note.
Both teams chose to make their first changes of the game, in the seventy-sixth minute, with Jamille Matt and Alex Pattison making way for Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Charlie Lakin. Meanwhile, Tranmere opted to make four substitutions, replacing Ethan Bristow, Dylan Jones, Richard Smallwood and Jayden Joseph with Kristian Dennis, Joe Ironside, Patrick Brough and former Saddler, Cameron Norman.
Sam Finley became the second player to see his name taken by the referee, as he was cautioned following a foul on Kanu, in the eighty-first minute.
Walsall chose to make two further substitutions, in the eighty-seventh minute, with Daniel Kanu and Evan Weir making way for ever present, Albert Adomah and the recently arrived, Kacper Lopata.
As we reached the ninetieth minute, Tranmere pulled a goal back, as Jennings headed the ball on from a free-kick, for Ironside, who headed home from the centre of the box.
Eight additional minutes were added to end the match, and four minutes into those added, Kacper Lopata was shown the yellow card, as he was booked for dissent.
The hosts looked to pull a second goal back, as play continued, but Tamen's ninety-fifth minute, headed effort from close range, sailed wide of the upright, moments after Jennings had seen a shot blocked.
Tranmere continued to press, with Norman heading the ball on for Whitaker, whose effort on goal was easily gathered by Roberts.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the game was brought to its conclusion with Walsall winning by three-goals-to-one. A decent performance from the travelling Saddlers, who took their chances well.
| IRONSIDE (90') |
FARQUHARSON (38') KANU (45') MATT (65') |
| AT | PRENTON PARK |
| REFEREE | DARREN DRYSDALE |