The sending off of Ben Chorley proved to be the pivotal moment of the match as Tranmere slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the Banks's Stadium.

Rovers were a goal up heading into half time when the defender was given his marching orders for pushing over Kevin Betsy. Though Danny Coyne saved the resulting penalty, the home side were soon level and scored the match winning goal early in the second half.

Ronnie Moore again named an unchanged starting eleven, with the only alteration from the teamsheet for the Swindon game being the inclusion of winger Chris Shuker on the bench in place of John Mullin.

It took just three minutes for Rovers to take the lead. A throw in on the left was taken by Andy Taylor and the ball was played back to the defender by Shane Sherriff. Taylor whipped in a cross to the far post from where Jennison Myrie-Williams did well to get in front of his marker and head beyond the dive of Clayton Ince.

The home side immediately went on the attack and forced a couple of corners before Edrissa Sonko fired over Danny Coyne's bar from 25 yards.

Michael Dobson forced the Rovers keeper into a low save with a left footed free kick on 8 minutes, while Robbie Stockdale excellently ended Lee Holmes' counter attack with a well timed tackle.

MIdfielder Steve Jennings fired straight at Ince from 25 yards on 18 minutes while Coyne did well to save from Tommy Mooney three minutes later despite being distracted by a spectator who had run on to the pitch.

Taylor - who was breaking forward at every opportunity - sent an angled shot over Ince's bar after sprinting past Rhys Weston on 27 minutes.

Coyne cut out a dangerous low cross from Sonko on 38 minutes, but the home side were awarded a penalty a minute later for a foul by Ben Chorley on Kevin Besty after Paul McLaren's miss kick had put the striker through on goal. Despite lengthy appeals, the defender was shown a red card and Tranmere were down to ten men.

Rovers' breathed a sigh of relief, however, when Mooney's spot kick was brilliantly saved by Coyne to keep his side ahead.

The home side continued to press forward and got their reward on the stroke of half time, with Alassane N'Dour's shot deflecting into the net following a goalmouth scramble.

Coyne saved from Mooney's header on 49 minutes and tipped over Sonko's cross a minute later as Rovers started the second half under pressure.

With the home side making the most of their numerical advantage and spreading the ball from side to side, possession was at a premium for Tranmere, and Ian Moore had to do a lot of chasing in his lone attack role.

Walsall's pressure paid off on 59 minutes. A high ball from Weston was kept in play by Mooney and his header found substitute Ishmel Demontagnac who shot across Coyne and into the far corner of the goal.

Myrie-Williams was replaced by Antony Kay on 61 minutes, with Greenacre moving back alongside Moore - who shot wide soon after - as Rovers moved to 4-3-2.

Penalty appeals were turned down on 69 minutes when Ian Goodison appeared to be caught on his ankle when crossing inside the area, while Calvin Zola replaced Greenacre soon after.

Goodison shot narrowly wide after picking up Jennings' loose shot on 78 minutes following a Rovers free kick. The final substitution saw Shuker replace Jennings on 87 minutes, but it failed to make a difference as Tranmere went home pointless.