Walsall 0-1 Tranmere Report

Ian Goodison netted the winner to see Rovers through to the second round of the Carling Cup, after an evenly fought game at Walsall. The Tranmere legend netted just before half time, and that’s the way it stayed. Rovers now await the draw tonight.

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Les Parry named an unchanged outfield side to the team that lost to Oldham; the only change was Joe Collister taking the gloves in goal, in place of Gunnar Neilson who was on international duty. So the team looked like this...

Collister

Darville, Wood, Goodison, Cresswell

 Welsh, McLaren, Labadie

 Gornell, Showunni, Thomas-Moore

 Subs: Miotto, Blanchard, Bakayogo, Fraughan, Mackreth, Benson, McGurk

Despite the poor turnout for Walsall fans, rovers were backed by 300 travelling fans, who were in full voice, hoping to cheer the lads onto the first win of the season.

The game began in end to end style as Taundry shot wide for Walsall and Gornell forced a corner for rovers with a deflected effort.

Despite Rovers creating a number of dangerous set pieces in the early play, they were being wasted and Walsall were counter attacking with pace, but were equally as wasteful.

The frantic pace calmed down quickly, as the two teams attempted to suss each other out. On 25 minutes Darren Byfield who was receiving constant abuse from the Rovers fans carved out a chance for Julian Gray to test Collister, but the youngster was equal to it. Soon after Rovers were ahead however...

With 5 minutes to half time McLaren swung in a free kick, which Labadie directed goal wards, and from close range Ian Goodison prodded home, to give the whites the lead. It was the right time to score as soon after the sides went in for half time, advantage Tranmere!

Half Time: Walsall 0-1 Tranmere

The first attack of the second half simply shouldn’t have happened, when McLaren was planning a free kick he accidently touched it, meaning play began, Rovers didn’t react and Darren Byfield raced away with the ball. It was two against two with John Welsh gobbling up the ground behind him, as the fans waited in anticipation Byfield squared for Nichols, whose low effort was superbly blocked by Collister, a save he shouldn’t have been allowed to make, but he did very well.

Thomas-Moore showed he is still committed to the cause for now when he sprayed a effort wide for Gornell, and the youngster crossed well to Thomas-Moore, but he couldn’t connect properly and Rovers won the corner.

Byfield blazed over from the edge of the box on the hour mark, whilst soon after Goodison did well to block Jones effort and make it a comfortable collection for Collister. Then when Byfield broke it was the Jamaican who denied the striker an effort on goal with a last ditch challenge.

Then Paul McLarens quickly taken free kick set up Ian Thomas-Moore, but his effort was turned behind by the keeper for a corner. For the last 10 minutes Rovers spent most of the time in the Walsall corners seeing down the time successfully, much to the frustration to the home fans, the game ended 1-0 and Rovers await the draw tomorrow night. If I’m not mistaken a trip to Goodison park is not out of the question.

Full Time: Walsall 0-1 Tranmere

Man of the Match: Ian Goodison.... The veteran defender continues to dominate attackers, the two goal saving tackles in the second half were just as important as his goal, a great performance all round. An impressive performance from Joe Collister shouldn’t go unmentioned, as the keeper was commanding and made a superb saved from the counter attack.