The Saddlers were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they welcomed Tranmere Rovers to the Poundland Bescot Stadium for their televised League Two clash.Tranmere got the game underway, but it was Walsall who created the opening chance just two minutes into the contest, as Jamille Matt played Liam Gordon through on goal, but the midfielder was unable to find the target, slicing the ball wide.
The hosts continued to press, with Connor Barrett finding space to shoot from the edge of the area, in the fifth minute, but he too was unable to find the target, firing over the crossbar.
The Saddlers went on to win a corner in the eighth minute, as Zak Bradshaw turned the ball out of play. The ball was played long, towards the back post, but Bradshaw was on hand to clear.
Walsall continued to apply pressure, with Jamie Jellis attempting to find the target with a bicycle kick, in the eleventh minute, but his effort sailed wide of the upright.
Tranmere won a free-kick in a promising position, out wide, thirteen minutes into the contest, but the Saddlers defences stood firm to ensure there was never any real pressure on the goal.
Rovers continued to enjoy a brighter spell, winning a corner as a Kristian Dennis effort was deflected behind by Harry Williams, but nothing would come of the flag-kick.
As we reached the quarter hour mark, Walsall found the breakthrough, as Taylor Allen crossed the ball towards the back post, where Matt was waiting to head home.
Things settled a little after the goal, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to test their opposition.
Walsall won a free-kick just outside the area, in the twenty-first minute, as Jordan Turnbull fouled Matt. Allen took the set-piece, but his initial effort was blocked, with the ball coming back out to him, allowing him to pass to Ryan Stirk, who fired home to secure his first goal of the season.
Jordan Turnbull became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for dissent in the twenty-second minute.
Tom Davies joined Turnbull in the book just one minute later, as the yellow card was flashed his way following a foul on Barrett.
Sam Finley, Kristian Dennis and Oisin McEntee all joined those already listed in the referee's notebook, in the twenty-ninth minute, as the three were cautioned following a scuffle.
Things settled again after play resumed, but thirty-four minutes in, Tranmere won a corner as McEntee turned the ball behind. Nothing would come of the flag-kick, as Finley's cross in, was headed clear by Matt.
With thirty-eight minutes on the clock, Tranmere were reduced to ten men as Sam Finley was shown his second yellow card of the contest, after clutching the ball to prevent a break from Jellis.
The hosts looked to add to their tally, three minutes after the dismissal, but Nathan Lowe was unable to find the target with his effort on the turn.
Walsall continued to seek further goals, with Allen crossing the ball towards the post for McEntee, but the midfielder headed wide from close range.
Tranmere pulled a goal back in the forty-fourth minute, as a Kieron Morris effort was blocked into the path of Connor Jennings who fired through the box and past Walsall shot-stopper, Tommy Simkin.
Three additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Jamie Jellis joined those playing on a caution, as he was added to the referee's notebook following a foul on former Saddler, Cameron Norman.
There was a brief halt to proceedings following that, allowing David Okagbue and Turnbull to receive attention from the medical teams, but both were able to continue. That would prove to be the final action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Walsall leading by two-goals-to-one.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Walsall got the action back underway. Just four minutes after the restart, Walsall extended their lead, as the ball fell kindly for Matt, who turned home from close range.
Tranmere won a free-kick in a dangerous position in the fifty-first minute, as Harvey Saunders was fouled by Williams, but the Saddlers defences stood firm and cleared the danger.
Things settled as the game continued, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, without creating much to trouble either defence.
Rovers could have pulled a goal back in the sixty-first minute, as Saunders broke with the ball and raced goal-wards, but his eventual effort failed to trouble Simkin, as it sailed harmlessly wide of the upright.
The Saddlers enjoyed a good spell of play following that move, but despite numerous efforts to create another goalscoring opportunity, they struggled to get a real shot away.
With sixty-eight minutes on the clock, Walsall opted to make their first change of the afternoon, with Oisin McEntee making way for Charlie Lakin.
Tranmere also took the opportunity to make some changes to their line-up, with Kristian Dennis, Lee O'Connor and Harvey Saunders departing, as their places were filled by Omari Patrick, Saidou Khan and Josh Davison.
Walsall put the game to bed in the seventy-second minute, as Lowe picked up the ball on the half-way line and played it forward for Jellis, who did fantastically well to work his way into position before firing home, with the help of a deflection off Tranmere 'keeper, Luke McGee.
Fifteen minutes from time, the Walsall bench chose to make a second change, with Jamille Matt making way for Albert Adomah.
Tranmere won a free-kick in a promising position in the seventy-ninth minute, but Davison's strike sailed wide, moments before Jennings saw an effort on goal blocked.
Ten minutes from time, Lowe added a fifth goal to the Walsall tally, as he tapped home an Adomah cross from close range.
The Saddlers chose to make their final changes of the afternoon five minutes from time, with Harry Williams, Nathan Lowe and Ryan Stirk all making way as their places were taken by Donervon Daniels, Danny Johnson and Brandon Comley.
Tranmere also took the opportunity to make their final changes of the game, with Kieron Morris and Zak Bradshaw being replaced by Sol Solomon and Connor Wood.
Four additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, the Saddlers won a free-kick in a dangerous position, which was played in for Adomah, who strike at goal was well saved by McGee, before Davison saw a headed effort sail wide of the target at the other end moments later.
That would prove to be the final action of note, and the referee brought the contest to it's conclusion, with Walsall winning by five-goals-to-one and making club history, winning an eighth consecutive game.
| MATT (15') JELLIS (22') MATT (49') JELLIS (72') LOWE (80') |
JENNINGS (44') |
| AT | BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | JEREMY SIMPSON |