Tranmere manager Brian Little decided to go the whole hog in the second half, sending on Delroy Facey to join the other two strikers and it worked at first.

Walsall got pushed further and further back until, eventually, Oakes could only parry a shot from Facey and Greenacre was on hand to score.

Kevan Broadhurst now showed his tactical nous, as he switched formation to 4 5 1, in order to try and get a grip on the midfield. It certainly worked.

Grant Smith got his head to a Kevin James cross to knock in his second goal of the game.

Walsall were indebted to two great saves from Oakes to keep the lead, but, in the main, Walsall reamined reasonably comfortable with the more solid formation.

According to wfc_2uk, this was a wonderful, well organised team performance in which all the players did extremely well, although Mills was the best player on the pitch.

Kevan Broadhurst must be delighted with three games in charge, all away from home, against teams in the top half of the league and he’s undefeated with 5 points and we are out of the bottom four. My word, things have changed.

Kevan Broadhurst sprang his usual surprise in his team selection, as Craig Pead disappeared completely from the 16. Mark Wright took his place at right back, as the Saddlers lined up:-

A Oakes, M Wright, I Roper, A Gerrard, D Fox, K James, P Mills, S Osborn, G Smith, P Devlin, A Barrowman Subs: R Gilmartin, C Westwood, M Timm, M Leary, I Demontagnac

wfc_2uk reporting from the ground says that the new look team did not perform very well at first, defending far too deeply, despite the encouragement of some 300 very vocal fans.

Slowly but surely, however, the Saddlers began to get a better hold in the game, which, accordingly, started to turn a little scrappy. They were indebted to Oakes for making what may well be one of the saves of the season, however, tipping a goalbound header onto the cross bar.

Mills was the pick of the Walsall side, as we got a fairly even share of the chances created, but it was a moment of sheer quality that made the difference between the two sides.

Barrowman, not for the first time, chased another lost cause in the fortieth minute, squared the ball back for Smith, who knocked it up with his right foot and volleyed home with his left. A great goal to leave Walsall 1 - 0 in front at half time.