Tranmere 2 Walsall 1 - analysis

For the fourth time in seven games, the Saddlers threw away a point in injury time.

Antony Kay's volley sent them home without a deserved share of the spoils, after they had seemed certain to leave Prenton Park with at least a point.

Marco Reich, with his first goal since August, had equalised from the penalty spot in the second half, cancelling out Ian Goodison's first-half opener.

Jimmy Mullen's side had gone toe to toe with play-off chasing Rovers but they revert to square one after the Boxing Day victory over Stockport.

The trip to Carlisle on Saturday represents a chance for Saddlers to put distance between those teams below them after failing to gain ground on those above them.

The gap to the play-offs is now 10 points. The gap to the drop zone is nine and neatly sandwiched between the two in 12th place are Walsall.

Mullen opted for a youthful bench, with midfielder Sam Adkins making his first appearance in the senior squad. Richard Davies and Will Grigg were also included, with one substitute appearance between them.

There was still no Paul Boertien, missing for the second successive game thanks to a hamstring strain, back-injury victim Mark Bradley or Sofiene Zaaboub, who has endured a torrid six months since signing from Swindon.

The youthfulness of the bench, which had an average age of 18, highlighted the threadbare nature of the Saddlers side.

With Stephen Roberts and Stephen Hughes out until the New Year and Michael Ricketts suspended until the home clash with Brighton in two weeks, Mullen's hands are tied – at least until Thursday.

While outwardly the Saddlers boss is not going to be declaring his targets, there surely must be one or two arrivals on the immediate horizon.

The squad simply cannot cope in its current format and depth. Injuries to key players has seen three teenagers on the bench and a team with any semblance of play-off ambition cannot rely on that.

Anthony Gerrard is still widely expected to leave, although his destination remains to be seen. Chris Palmer and Reich are yet to sign new deals and Alex Nicholls is certain to be attracting interest.

January is crucial. Signings are not just needed, they are imperative.

Mullen has complained about the lack of experience in his side, but he can have no grounds for complaint when he names a side with an average age of 24.

Reich made his third start in three months – in place of the suspended Ricketts – despite his outburst last week when he claimed the Saddlers were lucky to have him. Netan Sansara came in for the injured Bradley.

A bright start yielded three Saddlers corners but little to trouble Rovers keeper Danny Coyne, before opposite number Clayton Ince denied Ian Moore twice in a matter of minutes, first blocking the striker's sharp volley and then claiming his 12-yard header.

Kay skidded a shot wide from distance after 31 minutes, which came as light relief after the game had degenerated into a scrappy affair.

While Tranmere had the edge, there was little to suggest either side would do much to break the deadlock.

Steve Jennings let fly from 25 yards, in almost a cursory attempt to open the scoring as his effort whistled a good three yards wide.

There looked little danger of a goal before half-time, until the Saddlers defence imploded with astonishing ease two minutes before the break.

Andy Taylor and Chris Shuker worked a short corner, before Taylor's low cross evaded everyone until it was poked in by the onrushing Goodison from little more than three yards out.

It was woeful defending, as the Saddlers allowed one of Taylor's poorest deliveries to squeeze through. It was indicative of how they have defended at times this season and shows why they are marooned in mid-table.

Defeat at Prenton Park would have wiped out the three points won against Stockport on Boxing Day and the Saddlers knew it.

Within 11 minutes of the second half they were level and it was the outspoken Reich who scored his third goal of the season, from the spot.

Troy Deeney nodded down Gerrard's long ball into the path of Jabo Ibehre, who was tripped by Goodison. Penalty.

Up strode Reich to bury the spot kick, but while the German took the goalscoring plaudits, all credit should go to the hardworking Ibehre, who did exceptionally well to get between Goodison and Taylor.

From then the game slipped back into a midfield battle with little to trouble either goalkeeper, as Tranmere tried to beat Ince from distance, several times, and failed.

Walsall were finding it difficult to force a real opening in the Tranmere defence, with Alex Nicholls' header being easily dealt with by Coyne.

Tranmere, though, came close to regaining the lead on the hour, when Moore burst behind Rhys Weston to cut back to one-time Walsall favourite Edrissa Sonko, whose 12-yard effort clattered off the inside of the post.

The game lurched into the realms of the unknown as it became increasingly open, but, when the hosts did push forward they were restricted to hopeful efforts from distance.

It was heading towards a draw before Kay's late intervention. Moore's superb cross from the right found the Rovers captain advancing and he lashed past the exposed Ince from 12 yards.

Harsh on the Saddlers, but the concession of late goals is starting to owe more to fate than anything else.

By Nick Mashiter