Tranmere 0-0 Walsall – Report

Our winless run was extended to 13 games last night however the 0-0 draw with Tranmere felt like a win and you really do get the feeling that our bad performances are slowly disapearing.

It had been 29 games ago since we last registered a ‘bore draw’ – dating back to March when we were held by Hartlepool. However the manner in which we drew last night will leave a slightly bitter taste in the mouths of the Walsall faithful, like Saturday, it could have been so much different had we taken our chances.

Walsall made one enforced change from the starting X1 that drew at Crawley on Saturday. Paul Downing replaced the suspended Walsall skipper Andy Butler.

Will Grigg (who was probably our best player last night) had our first effort on goal, Owain Fon Williams in the Tranmere goal placed a poor kick that ended up at the feet of Grigg however he fired wide when he really should have found the target.

After half hour, Tranmere had a Kilitchsko/Haye square up when mis-communication between Ash Taylor and Liam Palmer, let in Grigg once more and once more the Northern Ireland striker fired wide from a good position – The reaction of Rovers pair proved Walsall were getting to their hosts.

HT Tranmere 0-0 Walsall

In the second half Febian Brandy hit a shot that appeared to have hit Ben Gibson on the arm, however the referee gave a corner instead! – both players and supporters alike were adament that it was a clear cut penalty.

Like the first half, Tranmere just came into the game in brief spells forcing McCarey to make a few stops but nothing that really tested the youngster.

In the final 5 minutes Sam Mantom had a long range effort that just went over the bar. After that neither side had any clear cut chances and the game fizzled out into a stalemate, a point we would have all taken before the game.

FT Tranmere 0-0 Walsall

We will feel agrieved not to have capitalised on Tranmere’s poor defending and I sense with Bowerman out of favour we could do with dipping into the loan market for a striker.

We now turn our attention to Saturday against Hartlepool.

With all due respect to Hartlepool we need to end our winless run this weekend. They are in freefall, despite hiring a new manager they just cannot stop conceeding goals…lets just hope our strikers take their chances!