Tranmere 2 Walsall 3 - Verdict
Troy Deeney celebrated his new contract with the winning goal as Walsall came from behind to beat struggling Tranmere at Prenton Park.
The striker, who penned a new two-year deal this week, followed up Darren Byfield's first goal since his return to the Banks' Stadium with a brace to hand the Saddlers their first win since the opening day.
Tranmere had taken the lead through Chris Shuker and pulled the game back to 2-2 via Walsall summer target Alan Mahon, before Deeney struck seven minutes from time.
Walsall manager Chris Hutchings kept faith with his young stars at the back meaning, goalkeeper Clayton Ince and skipper Mark Hughes were forced to settle for a place on the bench.
The only change was Alex Nicholls in for Peter Till, while former Saddler Michael Ricketts was handed a start against his old club.
Barnes' side had the lead within 11 minutes when Shuker evaded a challenge from Darryl Westlake and coolly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin – the first goal the Saddlers had conceded in 299 minutes.
Their wait for a goal had lasted even longer but 416 minutes of frustration came to an end on the stroke of half-time when Richard Taundry's shot was palmed into the path of Byfield and he rifled in from close range.
Rovers were forced to bring on 17-year-old keeper Joe Collister after the interval following an injury to Luke Daniels and within 54 seconds the Tranmere teenager was picking the ball out of the net, as Deeney took advantage of a kind deflection to lash home.
Hutchings' boys were well on top and it took a fine point-blank save from Collister to deny Deeney a second.
But Rovers pulled level with a goal out of nothing from Mahon after 61 minutes – the Republic of Ireland international unleashing a 30-yard screamer into the top corner.
The Saddlers suffered a further setback 18 minutes from the end when Taundry hobbled off to be replaced by Josh O'Keefe.
But Deeney was the hero as he stole in at the back post to convert Nicholls' cross in the 83rd minute.
Tranmere: (4-4-2) Daniels (Collister HT); Edds, Goodison, Broomes (Taylor HT), Cresswell; Shuker (Bain 55), Welsh, McLaren, Mahon; Ricketts, Curran.
Subs not used: Gornell, Barnett, Fraughan.
Walsall: (4-4-2): Gilmartin; Westlake, Smith, McDonald, Vincent; Nicholls, Mattis, Taundry (O'Keefe 72), Richards; Deeney, Byfield.
Subs not used: Ince, Weston, Sansara, Bradley, Jones, Hughes.
Booked: Westlake
