Walsall were back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to the Wirral where they took on Tranmere Rovers with a view to extending their unbeaten start to the season.Walsall began the game brightly, winning a free-kick in the third minute, as Jordan Turnbull fouled Connor Barrett. Taylor Allen whipped the ball into the box, where Jamille Matt was hauled to the ground by former Saddler, Cameron Norman, resulting in a penalty being awarded to the visiting side. Matt stepped forth to take the spot-kick, but Tranmere 'keeper, Luke McGee got down well to deny him.
The Saddlers continued to press, winning corners in the sixth and seventh minutes, as Turnbull, then Norman turned the ball out of play, but they were unable to make use of either as the hosts defended well.
Things settled a little as the game continued, with much of the play centred around the midfield area, but thirteen minutes in, Tramnere opened the scoring with their first real chance of the afternoon after winning a free-kick in a promising position; the ball was delivered into the box by Regan Hendry and eventually fell to Omari Patrick who fired past Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin.
Walsall looked to respond quickly to falling a goal behind, with Priestley Farquharson picking out Jamie Jellis from a throw-in, but the midfielders effort sailed over the bar.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the seventeenth minute, allowing McGee to receive attention from the Rovers medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with both sides enjoying time on the ball without creating much to trouble their opposition defences, but twenty-seven minutes into the contest, Barrett managed to get away from his marker to cross a low ball into the area; McGee was on hand to palm the the initial strike away, but the Saddlers won the ball back, with Charlie Lakin firing another low cross in, which Matt was just unable to reach.
Things settled once more, with the defences both doing their jobs, limiting the chances for their opposition to get forwards.
Josh Davison became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for time wasting in the thirty-seventh minute.
Priestley Farquharson joined Davison in the referee's notebook, just one minute later, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on Saunders.
There was a halt to proceedings in the forty-third minute, allowing Priestley Farquharson to receive attention from the medical team. It was quickly determined that he would be unable to continue, and he was helped from the field, David Okagbue joined the action in his place.
Five additional minutes were added, with the corner conceded moments before the pause in play being swung into the area, but coming to nothing as Connor Jennings headed wide.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end, where Josh Gordon saw an effort from outside the area blocked.
There were further concerns for the Saddlers before the break, as Oisin McEntee looked to be struggling with an injury to his shoulder following a challenge, but he was able to see out the first-half, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Tranmere leading by one-goal-to-nil
The teams returned unchanged after the break and Tranmere got the action back underway, and the hosts won a corner mere moments after the restart, as Allen turned the ball behind, but nothing would come of the flag-kick as the Saddlers defences cleared the danger.
Both sides took some time to settle back into the contest, but fifty-three minutes in, Walsall almost levelled the scores as a long ball from Simkin was headed on by Matt for Josh Gordon, whose effort from close range sailed over the crossbar.
With fifty-eight minutes on the clock, Walsall opted to make two further changes to their line-up, with Charlie Lakin and Josh Gordon making way for Jack Earing and recent arrival, Nathan Lowe.
As we reached the hour mark, Connor Barrett found his name being added to the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned following a foul on Lee O'Connor. The resulting free-kick saw Brad Walker fire goal-wards, but Simkin was well positioned to make the save.
Walsall won a free-kick just inside the Tranmere half, in the sixty-third minute, which Allen sent in on goal, but McGee had plenty of time to set himself and punched clear.
The visiting side continued to press, as they looked to get themselves back on level terms, with Barrett and Matt combining well to work the ball in for Jellis, in the sixty-seventh minute, but Rovers captain, Tom Davies was able to get his head in the way of the powerful strike to keep it out.
The Saddlers then won a corner, in the seventy-first minute, as Walker turned the ball out of play. Allen swung the ball into the area for Matt, but the strikers headed effort sailed wide of the target.
Walsall chose to introduce some fresh legs in the seventy-second minute, with Connor Barrett and Jamie Jellis making way for Albert Adomah and Ronan Maher.
Walsall almost found the goal they needed in the seventy-seventh minute, as Earing beat his man and crossed the ball in towards the back post for Matt, whose headed effort was scrambled clear by the Tranmere defences.
The hosts raced up to the other end, where Oisin McEntee joined those playing on a caution, in the seventy-seventh minute, as he was cautioned for dissent.
Just one minute later, Jordan Turnbull was shown the yellow card, as he was booked for time wasting.
Tranmere opted to make their first change of the afternoon in the eighty-second minute, with Harvey Saunders making way for Kristian Dennis.
Jamille Matt became the fourth Walsall man to see his name taken by the referee, as he was cautioned following a foul on Norman, in the eighty-second minute.
Walsall won a corner in the eighty-sixth minute as they continued to seek a late equaliser, but the ball in sailed through the area with nobody able to get a touch to turn it home.
With eighty-seven minutes on the clock, Tranmere chose to make a second substitution, with Josh Davison departing in favour of Sol Solomon.
The Saddlers continued to seek to restore parity, with Adomah doing well to work a low cross to Matt, whose effort on goal was blocked.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match. Walsall won a corner two minutes into them, which Simkin came forward for, Allen swung the ball into the box, but a foul by McEntee saw the hosts awarded a free-kick.
Walsall soon had the ball back in the Tranmere box, with Earing turned home, but there would be no late equaliser as the whistle had already blown for a foul. That would be the final action of note, and the game was brought to it's conclusion with Tranmere winning by one-goal-to-nil
| PATRICK (13') | |
| AT | PRENTON PARK |
| REFEREE | THOMAS PARSONS |