THE SADDLERS were roared on to a well-deserved 2-1 victory over fellow play-off hopefuls, Tranmere Rovers by a vocal home crowd as we bounced back from conceding an early goal.

The first effort on goal saw the visitors take the lead within the opening two minutes when a teasing ball in from the left was met by a stooping header from Jennison Myrie-Williams that beat Clayton Ince.

Walsall soon came to life and a positive run by Kevin Betsy ended with him dipping a shot just over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Then Lee Holmes curled a low free-kick around the wall and into the grateful arms of Dayy Coyne.

A fine ball by Alassane N'Dour out to Tommy Mooney saw him feed Betsy but his cross was weak and easy for Tranmere to clear.

There was another chance for Betsy to break on 36 minutes and this time his cross had the sting taken out of it by a deflection as Edrissa Sonko lurked.

With the home crowd in excellent voice, Betsy got in another cross from the right that Coyne did well to claim in front of Mooney.

There was a key moment on 38 minutes as Tranmere gave the ball away carelessly just outside their own penalty area and Betsy was alert to nip in only to have his progress halted in a clumsy fashion as he entered the area.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and in the protests that followed, Ben Chorley was given his marching orders. Mooney stepped up and his spot-kick was pushed out by Coyne.

Moments later, Mooney hit a shot on the turn that flashed inches wide of the target as the visitors found themselves under increasing pressure.

The equalising goal finally arrived in the closing stages of the half as N'Dour drilled in a shot that took a deflection on its way past Coyne and into the net.

It was no more than Walsall deserved as the half came to a close.

The Saddlers started the second period in a positive fashion and a neat move on 49 minutes ended with Sonko putting over a dangerous cross which Coyne had to push over .

The resulting corner from Michael Dobson caused problems for the visitors who managed to scramble the ball clear from in front of goal.

There was a change on 54 minutes as Ishmel Demontagnac was unleashed in place of Sonko.

A marauding run from Rhys Weston saw him find N'Dour who in turn played in Mooney whose lifted effort from the edge of the area landed just wide.

Richard Money's men finally got their noses in front just before the hour-mark when a deep cross from the right just managed to stay in as Mooney headed the ball back into the path of Demontagnac who arrowed a sweet strike low into the net.

Shortly afterwards, Roper found space inside the area to see a header claimed right on the goal-line by Coyne, whilst Moore dragged a shot wide at the other end.

Holmes was replaced by Troy Deeney shortly after The Saddlers had been relieved to see an offside flag after Moore was upended by Ince.

A further change saw Mark Bradley replace N'Dour in midfield.

On 77 minutes a free-kick wide on the right was only half-cleared by Walsall as Ian Goodison received the ball in space inside the area, but he poked his effort wide from a good position.

The visitors were enjoying a spell on top as they searched for an equaliser but were frustrated by The Saddlers.

With time running out, Betsy cut inside and hit a low shot that was deflected narrowly wide of the post with Coyne scrambling across his goal.

Then there was a breakaway by Demontagnac but his shot was blocked for a corner which came to nothing as Walsall secured a richly-deserved victory against fellow play-off hopefuls.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography