At the start of the day, most Rovers fans would probably have settled for a point at Walsall who are one of the most in-form teams at home in League One but by five o’clock the Super White Army headed for home feeling frustrated that they hadn’t taken all three points.  Rovers were indebted though to Steve Wilson, who has ridiculously come under fire from a section of Rovers fans in recent weeks, as he pulled of a string of saves to keep his side in the game.

 

Rovers manager Brian Little made four changes from the side that began the LDV game at home to Carlisle Utd on Tuesday night with right back Simon Francis available again after being cup-tied in midweek and Chris Greenacre and Ian Goodison available after recent injuries.  Midfielder Mark Rankine also returned to the starting line-up as Carl Tremarco, Sam Aiston, Paul Linwood and Steve Davies all made way.

 

Rovers began with a 3-5-2 formation as the home side began slightly more promisingly in the opening exchanges as top scorer Matty Fryatt had a couple of early chances that thankfully came to nothing.

 

Delroy Facey was the key man for Rovers in the first half as his aerial ability was giving the Saddlers a few nightmares but at the other end Sharps had to be continually alert to deny Matty Fryatt.  Rovers failed to test their former goalkeeper Joe Murphy until the very end of the first half when the Irishman had to take a catch from a Gareth Roberts effort.

 

So 0-0 at half-time and despite very few clear-cut chances, both sides had had their fair share of possession and a draw seemed a fair score-line at that stage.  However you also couldn’t help feeling that a game must surely unfold in the second half.

 

Rovers made a change at half-time as Ian Goodison, who had taken a knock at the end of the first half was replaced by Paul Linwood.

 

In contrast to the first half, it was Rovers who began the brightest and Delroy Facey fired wide from a Chris Greenacre flick.  Just four minutes later though, Facey was clumsily fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Julian Bennett and although it may not have clearly been in the penalty area, the Rovers players and fans at least expected a free-kick to be given but even that decision did not materialise.

 

Facey only lasted a further minute after that tackle as he took another slight knock and was therefore replaced upfront by Steve Davies.

 

As the game entered its final 25 minutes, Rovers seemed to wake up from a slumber that has lasted most of the season as they peppered the Walsall penalty area with chances which they agonisingly failed to convert.

 

Firstly, Chris Greenacre was set-up by Steven Jennings but fired just wide of Murphy’s goal before the lively Steve Davies put the ball in the net after Murphy could only parry Mark Rankine’s shot.  As Davies wheeled away in celebration and the 300 or so travelling Rovers fans went mad in the stands, the reality suddenly dawned that the goal had been struck-off for offside against Davies.

 

Whilst Rovers dominated the possession and spent long periods in the Walsall half towards the end, there was still danger from the home side as firstly Steve Wilson made a stunning save from Matty Fryatt and just two minutes later, a poor backpass by Paul Linwood let Fryatt in again but once again Wilson made an excellent save to deny him.

 

Two further saves from Wilson followed but Rovers still had chances of their own as Davies in particular looked threatening.  In the though the three minutes of injury time were played out and the game ended 0-0 which on reflection was probably a fair result although Rovers fans will feel that the Whites did enough to win the game but could not take their chances.

 

Despite gaining a point, Rovers dropped one place in the League One table and a win for bottom club Swindon means Tranmere are now just a single point off the bottom of the table.  Next up is Yeovil Town at home on Wednesday evening where three points is a must.

 

Tranmere Man of the Match

 

Steve Wilson:  Mark Rankine and Simon Francis both performed well for Rovers but for at least four fantastic second half saves that kept the scores at 0-0, Steve Wilson deserves the accolade after a good performance following the downer he had on Tuesday night.

 

The Team Line-Ups

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Walsall:  Murphy, Pead, Roper, Standing (Nicholls 71), Osborn, Leitao, Fryatt, Taylor, Bennett, Constable (Taylor 46).

           

Substitutes Not Used: Oakes, Westwood, Kinsella.

          

Tranmere Rovers:  Wilson, Francis, Sharps, Goodison (Linwood 46), Roberts, Jackson, Jennings, Rankine, Harrison, Facey (Davies 58), Greenacre.

           

Substitutes Not Used: Palethorpe, Tremarco, Aiston.

           

Booked: Osborn (Walsall)

 

Referee – Mr Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)

 

The Gaffer’s Verdict…

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Brian Little’s View of the Match (Speaking to the Official Website)…..

 

"The offside seemed to be an instant decision, so there are no complaints. Young Davies did well for us when he went on.  I thought it was a penalty. The tackle (on Facey) was very reckless; he came across him and scythed him down. I thought that was the decision that stood out.

     

"We've played quite a bit of open football away from home and gone home losing. We spent this week working with three centre backs which is one of my trademarks over the years. We decided to come here and try to give nothing away. In that respect it was a good solid performance.”

 

"There was a period of about three or four minutes towards the end where we were under pressure, outside of that we were comfortable. We deserved at least a point. We didn't want a 100 mile an hour game, we've had so many of those this season that we have ended up losing."

     

"Del (Facey) has hurt his ankle, we don't know how badly yet. We will check him in the morning. With playing again on Wednesday he has to be a doubt.  It wasn't a great tackle. The way the game was going, everybody was getting wound up. So we decided to take off Ian (Goodison) and bring on Paul (Linwood) and settle things down."

       

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