Struggling Walsall remain in relegation danger following a home defeat by mid-table Tranmere.

The Saddlers are only three points clear of the League One drop-zone with three games remaining.

Andy Robinson's free-kick into the roof of the net was the difference between the two sides.

Walsall's best chance fell to Kevan Hurst, while they had Lee Beevers was sent off in the last minute for a second bookable offence.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"It's difficult here because they've been on a tremendous run.

"To come here and win is a bonus for us.

"We said in the second half that if we want to get safe, let's go out and show some spirit and endeavour.

"I thought we dealt with nearly everything that came in and our goalkeeeper's done well for us late on when he's come for a couple of crosses."

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (5)

Walsall

  • 21 Grof
  • 03 Sadler
  • 04 Butler Booked
  • 12 Beevers Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 06 Smith
  • 11 Hurst (Paterson - 76' )
  • 25 Cuvelier
  • 27 Mantom
  • 28 Ledesma
  • 10 Macken
  • 16 Nicholls (Bowerman - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Walker
  • 05 Lancashire
  • 07 Chambers
  • 15 Paterson
  • 17 Bowerman

Tranmere

  • 01 fon Williams
  • 05 Goodison
  • 12 Taylor
  • 15 Holmes
  • 16 Buchanan Booked
  • 08 Welsh Booked
  • 11 Robinson (Weir - 86' )
  • 27 Wallace
  • 07 Showunmi (McGurk - 59' Booked )
  • 17 Akins
  • 18 Cassidy (Brunt - 86' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Coughlin
  • 06 McChrystal
  • 10 Weir
  • 14 McGurk
  • 28 Brunt
Ref: Brown
Att: 3,895

Match Stats

Shots

14 7

On target

4 3

Corners

7 5

Fouls

16 20

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:55 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +3:53

Corner taken by John Welsh from the left by-line.

90:00 +3:53 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee sends off Lee Beevers for second bookable offence.

90:00 +3:11

Adam McGurk takes a shot. David Grof makes a save.

90:00 +2:22 Booking

Booking Booking for Adam McGurk.

90:00 +2:05

Foul by Ryan Brunt on Emmanuele Smith, free kick awarded.

90:00 +0:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Goodison by Andy Butler. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:22

Ryan Brunt has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.

88:42

Strike from close range by Jonathan Macken clears the bar.

87:18

Adam McGurk produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

85:54 Substitution

Substitution Robbie Weir on for Andy Robinson.

85:54 Substitution

Substitution (Tranmere) makes a substitution, with Ryan Brunt coming on for Jake Cassidy.

84:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mat Sadler by Lucas Akins. Direct free kick taken by Mat Sadler.

82:00

David Buchanan fouled by Emanuel Jorge Ledesma, the ref awards a free kick. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

80:47

Andy Robinson produces a left-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

79:31

Direct free kick taken by Owain Fon Williams.

79:31 Substitution

Substitution George Bowerman replaces Alex Nicholls.

79:31

Danny Holmes fouled by Jamie Paterson, the ref awards a free kick.

77:23

Andy Butler fouled by James Wallace, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mat Sadler.

75:19 Substitution

Substitution (Walsall) makes a substitution, with Jamie Paterson coming on for Kevan Hurst.

75:19

Sam Mantom fouled by James Wallace, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by David Grof.

74:37

Lucas Akins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mat Sadler. Mat Sadler takes the free kick.

73:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy Robinson on Emmanuele Smith. Sam Mantom takes the direct free kick.

72:59

Emanuel Jorge Ledesma takes a shot. Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

71:20

Outswinging corner taken by Andy Robinson from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Andy Butler.

70:09

Sam Mantom takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

68:34

Emanuel Jorge Ledesma fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

68:34 Booking

Booking David Buchanan goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

68:17

Alex Nicholls fouled by David Buchanan, the ref awards a free kick.

66:36

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Emanuel Jorge Ledesma, Owain Fon Williams fouled by Jonathan Macken, the ref awards a free kick. Owain Fon Williams takes the free kick.

66:04

Corner taken by Emanuel Jorge Ledesma played to the near post, David Buchanan manages to make a clearance.

65:55

The ball is crossed by Andy Robinson, clearance by Emmanuele Smith.

65:11

Jonathan Macken takes a shot. Kevan Hurst delivers the ball in from the corner, clearance made by Danny Holmes. Ash Taylor gets a block in.

63:22

Ash Taylor has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

62:59

Short corner taken by Andy Robinson.

61:14 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Robinson - Walsall 0 - 1 Tranmere Andy Robinson grabs a goal direct from the free kick from long range to the top right corner of the goal. Walsall 0-1 Tranmere.

60:20 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Andy Butler for unsporting behaviour.

59:35

Andy Butler concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Robinson.

58:24

Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

58:24 Substitution

Substitution Adam McGurk on for Enoch Showunmi.

58:24

A cross is delivered by Alex Nicholls, free kick awarded for a foul by Kevan Hurst on Danny Holmes.

56:04

Andy Butler fouled by Enoch Showunmi, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David Grof.

55:28

Ian Goodison fouled by Andy Butler, the ref awards a free kick. Owain Fon Williams takes the free kick.

55:12

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line, Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

54:56

Sam Mantom takes a shot. Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

54:03

John Welsh concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Macken. Mat Sadler takes the direct free kick.

53:23

Inswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line.

52:24

Ash Taylor challenges Emanuel Jorge Ledesma unfairly and gives away a free kick. Emanuel Jorge Ledesma produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Owain Fon Williams.

50:44

Effort from just outside the area by Emanuel Jorge Ledesma goes over the target.

49:45

The offside flag is raised against Emanuel Jorge Ledesma. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

49:45

Emanuel Jorge Ledesma is ruled offside. Owain Fon Williams takes the free kick.

48:00

Free kick taken by Emanuel Jorge Ledesma.

48:00 Booking

Booking John Welsh is given a yellow card.

47:54

Emanuel Jorge Ledesma fouled by John Welsh, the ref awards a free kick.

47:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Macken on James Wallace. James Wallace takes the free kick.

47:21

Unfair challenge on John Welsh by Kevan Hurst results in a free kick. John Welsh restarts play with the free kick.

45:31

Centre by Alex Nicholls.

45:13

Unfair challenge on Florent Cuvelier by Ian Goodison results in a free kick. Sam Mantom takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +1:02 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

43:34

John Welsh fouled by Alex Nicholls, the ref awards a free kick. James Wallace restarts play with the free kick.

41:56

A cross is delivered by Kevan Hurst.

35:52

Lucas Akins sends in a cross, save made by David Grof.

33:00

Unfair challenge on Mat Sadler by Lucas Akins results in a free kick. Free kick taken by David Grof.

31:42

Lucas Akins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Butler. David Grof restarts play with the free kick.

31:01

Florent Cuvelier gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Enoch Showunmi. Andy Robinson crosses the ball in from the free kick, Andy Butler makes a clearance.

30:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Enoch Showunmi on Emmanuele Smith. David Grof restarts play with the free kick.

29:15

Free kick crossed by Andy Robinson.

29:15 Booking

Booking Lee Beevers receives a caution.

28:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Robinson by Lee Beevers.

28:38

John Welsh takes a shot. Andy Butler gets a block in.

28:08

Jake Cassidy fouled by Emmanuele Smith, the ref awards a free kick. John Welsh takes the free kick.

25:42

Jonathan Macken concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Robinson. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

25:16

Florent Cuvelier fouled by John Welsh, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mat Sadler.

25:03

Foul by James Wallace on Emanuel Jorge Ledesma, free kick awarded. Emanuel Jorge Ledesma restarts play with the free kick.

22:12

Kevan Hurst produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

21:25

The ball is delivered by Danny Holmes, Emmanuele Smith makes a clearance.

20:14

Danny Holmes produces a cross, clearance made by Lee Beevers.

19:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Macken by Lucas Akins. Lee Beevers takes the free kick.

17:27

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst played to the near post, Enoch Showunmi makes a clearance.

15:17

Foul by Andy Robinson on Alex Nicholls, free kick awarded. Emanuel Jorge Ledesma takes the direct free kick.

14:03

Sam Mantom has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

13:35

The referee penalises Jake Cassidy for handball. Free kick taken by David Grof.

12:26

The official flags Emanuel Jorge Ledesma offside. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

11:28

Kevan Hurst has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.

9:37

The ball is delivered by Mat Sadler, Emanuel Jorge Ledesma has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.

9:00

Kevan Hurst takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Enoch Showunmi.

8:46

Lee Beevers takes a shot. Ian Goodison gets a block in.

6:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Macken on James Wallace. Free kick taken by James Wallace.

5:28

John Welsh delivers the ball in from the corner, David Grof makes a save.

4:53

The referee blows for offside against Jonathan Macken. Free kick taken by Ian Goodison.

3:57

Effort on goal by Emanuel Jorge Ledesma from long range goes over the crossbar.

3:29

Foul by David Buchanan on Alex Nicholls, free kick awarded. Emanuel Jorge Ledesma delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Danny Holmes manages to make a clearance.

2:35

Florent Cuvelier gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Wallace. Direct free kick taken by James Wallace.

2:28

A cross is delivered by Lee Beevers, clearance made by Ash Taylor.

2:09

A cross is delivered by John Welsh, clearance by Emmanuele Smith.

1:32

Outswinging corner taken by John Welsh.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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