Walsall 1 Tranmere 4

Saturday 23rd October 2010, 5:15PM BST.

Walsall 1 Tranmere 4

The pressure on Walsall manager Chris Hutchings intensified after a heavy home defeat to Tranmere.

Two goals from John Welsh started and finished the Saddlers nightmare, with Enoch Showunmi and Ian Thomas-Moore also scoring either side of Jonathan Macken’s reply.

Welsh silenced the Banks’s Stadium with his opener in the 33rd minute after goalkeeper Jonny Brain could only punch clear as far as the midfielder, who lifted the ball into the net from distance.

Showunmi had put Brain under pressure for the first goal and got the second after the break, seizing on Andrew Davies’ 58th minute slip to slot past the goalkeeper.

But Walsall were given a glimmer of hope by pulling one back six minutes later, Macken poking the ball in after Martin Devaney crossed from the left.

It was to be a false dawn as Tranmere were handed a penalty in the 75th minute, after Dale Jennings had been hauled down by Aaron Lescott, with Thomas-Moore converting from the spot.

And insult was added to injury by a fourth goal, with Welsh catching the Saddlers’ on the break to fire home.


  1. 1
    RedPrince

    I had the misfortune to watch Tranmere play Brentford last week, and I thought that Tranmere were the worst side I have seen in a long, long time! They lacked invention, industry, and anything going forward, so to lose so heavily at home to them must surely be the final curtain for Hutchings reign!

    If not, then Jeff must have only malice left in his heart!

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  2. 2
    roger

    As I said last week and the week before that and the week before that CH has got to go… end of.

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  3. 3
    Andy

    oh dear oh dear oh dear mr hutchings and Oconner, im sorry your teams not good enough clear you desk time to go. we need a manager whos been there and done it and can give us fans some real football to watch bring on the great Osvaldo Ardiles he should be cheap enough

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  4. 4
    The Mill

    Whats going om Jeff? its surely time for Dumb and Dumber to be thrown out the door and while your at it do me and all the rest of the Walsall fans a favour and follow them throut it

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  5. 5
    Saddlesore

    I disagree with the team not being good enough – I think it is! The problem is the management, simple as that. If you brought in a manager & coach who had a clue, then we’d be a decent team.

    I’ve never seen ONE decent performance under these two, NOT ONE. They have got to go.

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  6. 6
    Barry Sylvester

    I have been saying for some cosiderable time that Mr Hutchngs is not a motivator and out of his depth.Having supported WFC for 55 years I cannot recall such poor results. One would think he would fall on his sword. However, if he did, he would lose out on compensation and that explains why the powers to be do not want to dispence with his services. It is all about money, or should I say lack of it, in the case of WFC. I cannot recall in all my years of being a supporter, the desperate position we are in. There appears to be no leadership from the boardroom and the management team are out of their depth. Bearing in mind we are at the bottom of Division One,it is a desperate position to be in and desperate methods need to be taken “NOW” We need someone to motivate the players, make race horses out of cart horses and get us ot of this terrible situation, before WFC goes to the wall!!!!
    I would like to see David Kelly brought in to manage the club. He was a an excellent servant to the club, as a player and he has done very well as an assistant manager, with several clubs.
    I rest my case.
    Yours sincerely,
    Barry Sylvester

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  7. 7
    walsallbeast

    roger (clap clap clap) i totally agree,,CH must go now,,the bottom club beating us at our home ground and as CH said “with a fully fit squad”

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  8. 8
    Stevie C

    I would keep MOC on as a coach. He is still learning the game and with a good experienced manager he could continue to improve.

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  9. 9
    Geoff the ref

    Shocking to watch, for a long time now, there has been no entertainment
    Hutch managed a win against the 10 men of Exeter, whilst watching you would of thought we had 10 men
    Yesterday was the worst performance of the season, we failed to test their goalkeeper at all.
    If mr Bonser has the will, then please sack them both.
    Chris and Martin, if he does not, have the decency to resign, you are not good enough. Move on to somewhere else

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  10. 10
    Rogsaddler1

    Oh dear! What a total shambles. I don’t believe in the philosophy of sacking the manager at the first sign of trouble but this has gone on long enough. This is CH’s team and only one person can carry the can. I believe the players are better than this but 3 wins out of 15 played all season suggests a total lack of spirit. Tactically inept and motivationally bankrupt, the time is right if there is to be any chance of rescuing the season. Out of 2 cup competitions at the first hurdle. Fleetwood fans must be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of a league 1 “scalp”. They must be favourites to progress!

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  11. 11
    wacca

    Why is he still employed, I was expecting to read that he had been sacked by the time I got home from the match yesterday. I’m sure he phoned Jeff (in Cyprus) and said the first goal was a fluke, the second was unlucky, the 3rd wasn’t a penalty (even though it clearly was) and the forth was as we were pushing forward. never mind Chris, you’re the cheapest we can find so you are safe would be the reply from Jeff.

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  12. 12
    Londonsaddler

    Why doesn’t Hutch do the honorable thing and resign. He must be able to see the club is falling to pieces under his mismanagement, yet he continues to plod along as if everything is fine. he continues to ruin the club for his own selfish gain.
    If he had any self respect he would stand down and relies he hasn’t got the ability to be a football manager. He failed at Wigan and Bradford, and now he is doing the same at Walsall.

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  13. 13
    dwfc

    Notts County have sacked their manager for a lot less, it all just comes down to ambition at the end of the day! If you have any self respect or respect for the club act now Mr. Bonser and give Walsall Football Club the manager and team the supporters deserve!

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  14. 14
    Lichfield Saddler

    Players all support the manager and then perform like that.What an utter joke.

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