Tranmere 2 Walsall 3 - Analysis

Unbeaten in four games, just two points off the top six and, joy of joys, the goal drought is over.

And what style they did it in. After three consecutive stalemates this refreshingly open game was a dream to watch for the neutral observer – if the opposite for the managers, especially under-fire Tranmere boss John Barnes whom angry Rovers supporters demanded resign after the game.

OK, so the Saddlers were up against a team with a defence about as convincing as the grovelling apologies of shamed tennis star Serena Williams and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor following their weekend wrongs.

But their character and commitment could not be questioned having gone behind early on and being pegged back to 2-2.

No wonder there was a spring in the step of Saddlers chief Chris Hutchings as he departed Prenton Park.

In fact, only a hamstring injury to Richard Taundry tarnished what was an otherwise perfect day in the north-west.

When asked about Troy Deeney signing his new two-year deal in the build-up to the game, Hutchings had noted how players' form tended to suffer once they had the security of a new contract in place.

If that was intended to be a veiled challenge to the Saddlers striker then it certainly worked a treat as Deeney netted his first two goals of this campaign. Equally pleasing will have been Darren Byfield getting off the mark in his second stint at the club.

Hutchings will know that having your forwards firing is so often the difference between success and failure at any level.

Make no mistake, after 416 minutes without a goal, the Saddlers' goalscoring problem was fast turning into a crisis.

Equally, their watertight back four had been a cause for optimism after three consecutive clean sheets.

But while the defence was breached for the first time in 299 minutes, that will not be of concern for the Walsall boss.

Again the rearguard was excellent with Hutchings' brave decisions to leave out fit-again skipper Mark Hughes and veteran goalkeeper Clayton Ince fully justified.

In Manny Smith and Clayton McDonald, he has two of the division's most athletic defenders and what the pair lack in experience they certainly make up for in talent.

Smith's displays this term have already caught the eye and the 20-year-old looks like he's been on the scene a decade longer. Every ball pumped into Walsall's half was made to look like a free header, such was his aerial dominance.

How Hutchings must be tempted to ask Manchester City to extend the loan stay of McDonald, who again looked very comfortable at this level. A deal would surely be beneficial to all parties.

With Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott, Nedum Onuoha and Vincent Kompany all already at City, it's hard to see McDonald getting much action at Eastlands this season and, at 20, he would benefit from regular first-team football.

Now Mark Hughes available again, key to Hutchings' decision will be the results of Stephen Roberts' back scan.

In goal Rene Gilmartin justified his inclusion with a solid showing between the sticks. But there was little the Irishman could do about Chris Shuker's 11th-minute opener, as the Tranmere midfielder latched onto Craig Curran's through ball, skipped around Darryl Westlake and coolly lifted the ball over Gilmartin.

It was a wonderfully taken goal – not one befitting a side who had won just once in the league all season.

The Saddlers kicked-off boasting the same sad statistic, but having not tasted victory since beating Brighton on the opening day.

It took 24 minutes for them to register their first real chance when Alex Nicholls – the only change to the side for the injured Peter Till – delivered a teasing cross from the right which Byfield headed past the post.

Hutchings' side had the better of the chances and they almost pulled level via a well-worked move which saw Deeney lay-off Westlake's cross to Nicholls only for him to hammer narrowly past the post.

But the Saddlers got what they deserved on the stroke of half-time when Taundry's shot from the edge of the area could only be palmed straight to Byfield by Rovers' on-loan Albion goalkeeper Luke Daniels and the forward fired in from close range.

The timing was perfect being so close to the break but the Saddlers could have even gone into the interval ahead after Byfield threaded through Deeney only for Daniels to bravely smother.

But it came at a cost, with Daniels injured in the collision and the goalkeeper did not return for the second period.

In his place was 17-year-old debutant Joe Collister, but within 54 seconds of the restart the Tranmere teenager was picking the ball out of the net.

Deeney showed quick feet before feeding the ball out to Taundry on the right and his cross, with the aid of a kind bounce off a defender, fell straight to Deeney who made no mistake rifling home.

With Collister looking every inch the rookie – he was glued to his goal-line – Hutchings' boys grew in confidence and dominated proceedings.

But the young stopper pulled off a fine save from point-blank range to keep out Deeney's bullet header.

It looked like the game's turning point when Rovers pulled level in fortuitous circumstances a minute after the hour.

Republic of Ireland international Alan Mahon, a player Hutchings had admitted he was keen to sign in the summer, unleashed a 30-yard drive which flew into the top corner with the aid of a wicked deflection.

There was another blow in the 72nd minute when Taundry hobbled off, with Josh O'Keefe handed his first senior chance.

Yet, fortunately, there was to be a happy ending.

Nicholls led a breakaway charge down the right flank with seven minutes remaining and, with Tranmere's defence all at sea, he picked out Deeney at the far post to leave the Saddlers striker with a simple finish.

Deeney could have even had a hat-trick when he was given a clear path to goal but Collison came off his line and saved well.

Smith then blocked superbly from Michael Ricketts in what was an otherwise quiet game from the ex-Saddler as the visitors held on.

By Brendan McLoughlin