Tranmere 2 Walsall 1 Despite a stirring second-half rally Walsall failed to halt Tranmere's promotion drive or their own run of poor away results. The Saddlers may have saved a point but anxious Rovers hung on to complete the double over the Saddlers, having won 2-0 at Bescot in December. It meant Walsalls eighth away defeat of the season and they seem unable to get results from their travels, although Paul Mersons master-plan for this game showed some encouraging signs. In the absence of injured top scorer Matty Fryatt, Merson operated as a lone striker, with Jorge Leitao playing a deeper role on the left until they went two down and were chasing the game. Then Leitao raised hopes by pulling a goal back - his ninth of the season - but in spite of waves of pressure the Saddlers could not break through the home defence again. Now Walsall have to travel to Colchester on Tuesday night, when skipper Mark Kinsella may be missing against his old club after breaking his nose in the first half of the Tranmere match. And Fryatt could be absent again. A disappointed Merson said: I thought we deserved a point. They had one shot in the first half and we created the best clear-cut chance. Then we came out in the second half and gave a silly goal away - thats two mistakes for their goals - and after that we dominated the game. Its frustrating when you look at where Tranmere are in the league and you see what we did to them. Any neutral coming from abroad might have thought we were the team third in the table. So often Walsall concede the first goal - and they were looking tentative when they went behind after just eight minutes. No-one closed down Tranmeres top scorer, Iain Hume, as he collected the ball mid-way in the visitors half. From 25 yards he decided to have a pot and his shot went just inside the far post despite a full-length dive by Walsall keeper Joe Murphy, on the ground where he began his professional career. Then, in the 31st minute, Kinsella had to go off to be replaced by Joe Broad. Seven minutes later good work by Simon Osborn and Merson set Leitao on a determined run through the middle, but the striker dragged his shot wide under pressure from Ian Goodison. Walsall were defending well enough, with Julian Bennett and Zigor Aranalde outstanding, but teenager Bennetts one mistake virtually killed off the visitors hopes. In the 50th minute Bennett dwelt on the ball then lost his footing, and Chris Dagnall darted through to round Murphy and shoot high into the empty net. That was the signal for the Saddlers to increase the tempo, with Merson pulling the strings, and the former Villa, Middlesborough and Arsenal star had a fierce drive turned round the post by Russell Howarth following a move between Aranalde, Leitao and Broad. Merson must have created most of Walsalls last dozen goals - and he did it again in the 62nd minute. His right-wing corner was returned to him and he delivered an inch-perfect cross for Leitao to sweep first time into the net. From then on Tranmere were hanging on, sometimes kicking the ball anywhere to relieve the pressure. With 10 minutes left Saddlers brought on Marvin Robinson, whose goals have dried up following an impressive start to his Bescot career, but he hammered his one half-chance high and wide. Tranmere manager Brian Little admitted to being tense as Walsall pushed for the equaliser. We know Walsall can play some nice football, he said. But I cant remember them creating another real chance. TRANMERE (3-5-2): Howarth; Jackson, Goodison, Linwood; Taylor, Harrison, Rankine (Jennings 64), Whitmore (Hall 77), Roberts; Hume (Dadi 78), Dagnall. Subs not used: Jones, Beresford. WALSALL (4-5-1): Murphy; Wright, Emblen, Bennett, Aranalde; Leitao, Standing (Robinson 80), Kinsella (Broad 31), Osborn, Wrack; Merson. Subs not used: Paston, Dann, Williams. REFEREE: P Prosser (West Yorkshire). | 
