Walsall extended their dominance at the top of League Two with a commanding 5-1 triumph over struggling Tranmere Rovers, moving 13 points clear at the top of the table.
Jamille Matt found the net twice, while Ryan Stirk, Jamie Jellis and Nathan Lowe also contributed goals. Connor Jennings scored the only goal for Tranmere in what was a miserable afternoon for the visitors.
The Saddlers started brightly, with Luke McGee forced into an early save from Jellis’ volley. Their pressure paid off in the 15th minute when Matt rose to meet Taylor Allen’s cross, directing a looping header past McGee to give Walsall the lead.
The home side doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute when Stirk unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, finding the bottom corner with precision. Tranmere’s situation worsened when Finley received two quick yellow cards seven minutes before the break, leaving his side facing nearly an hour with 10 men against the best team in the league.
Despite the setback, the visitors briefly rallied, and Jennings pulled one back with a well-taken effort from 20 yards just before the half time whistle.
Half Time – Walsall 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
Walsall Take Full Advantage Of Extra Man
Despite getting back into the game with their late goal in the first half, Tranmere were always going to be up against it. The last thing a team battling against relegation needs is to play a full half with 10 men against a team destined for League One. Any hopes of a comeback were dashed early in the second half when Matt capitalised on a loose ball to score from close range in the 49th minute.
From here, the result was a formality, and it soon became a case of just how many goals the Saddlers would score. Jellis extended Walsall’s lead in the 72nd minute with a near-post effort, and Lowe sealed the rout in the 80th minute with his 15th goal of the season.
The defeat marked Tranmere’s sixth consecutive away loss, leaving them just four points above the bottom two.
Full Time – Walsall 5-1 Tranmere Rovers
Writer’s View
Walsall’s performance was a testament to their dominance in League Two, showcasing clinical finishing and relentless pressure. Matt’s leadership up front, combined with Lowe’s goal-scoring consistency, underlines the attacking firepower at their disposal. For Tranmere, discipline issues and defensive frailties were evident, making their survival battle increasingly challenging. The Saddlers’ confidence and momentum suggest they are well-positioned to maintain their charge for promotion.
