Analysis of Walsall 2 Tranmere 1

Darren Byfield climbed off the treatment table and reminded everyone about the football.

The hype surrounding Saturday was all about events off the pitch, the match took second place. But it was the striker's ninth goal of the season grabbing the headlines.

Walsall secured back-to-back wins for only the third time this season, but even then they did it the hard way.

Manny Smith sliced through his own net to give Tranmere a 26th-minute lead, before heading the hosts level in an even contest settled by Byfield's moment of magic.

Boss Chris Hutchings revealed the striker was a major doubt for the game, before passing a late fitness test on a knee injury.

The manager said: "Darren pulled up in training on Thursday, because he got a knock in the previous game against Wycombe. He was very doubtful and he had a fitness test on the morning.

"He's been getting into those goalscoring positions and hasn't been scoring, the keeper has been making saves.

"It's not like he's been missing the target, so it's nice for him to get back on the scoresheet."

Byfield rammed the jeers down the throats of visiting supporters after they taunted him and the boss was delighted the striker rose to the challenge.

Hutchings said: "Sometimes it can affect you and sometimes it doesn't, it was nice for him to score. If he scores it shuts them up, if he doesn't it gives them something to shout about."

But Tranmere boss Les Parry felt his men threw the game away, after they edging ahead thanks to Smith's freak own goal.

He said: "It's a disappointing defeat, because we dominated the first half an hour and had some great chances.

"We have been hit by two sucker punches, which is something we don't want happen too often."

The result put the brakes on the boo boys who, despite launching some audible chants, only briefly punctured an afternoon where the players needed to be the focal point.

They had grown in numbers against chairman Jeff Bonser and chief executive Roy Whalley after the club moved on their decision to ban protesters.

But, while attempts at rising above the apathy at the Banks's are admirable and frustrations are understandable, there is little to suggest their actions will result in change.

Their ultimate goal is for new ownership but is there a ready-made alternative? No. Unless there is change at the top then the fans and the owner are stuck with each other.

Banning supporters when the club is not in a position to turn away paying punters is foolish and perhaps symptomatic of a tired regime. But there are two sides to this argument.

Fans deserve their right to freedom of speech and preventing them from doing so is wrong but, whether there are 20 or 200 dissenting voices, it will change little.

Both are between a rock and a hard place. Some fans' self-imposed exile merely adds to the club's problems. The idea of attending games - which would then generate more money and perhaps better players - isn't welcome.

They are concerned about lining the pockets of a chairman they feel has let them down. But, while it may have seemed a good idea at the time, it is slowly helping towards the stagnation of the club.

Sub-4,000 attendances will never help them progress or be an attractive investment. Not that they do not have some valid points.

The club could be more accessible - there are some working extremely hard to make that so - and it does need a massive shake-up. But you end up going in a vicious cycle, one which is unlikely to end any time soon.

All the team can do is win and, arguably, they did it comfortably against a Tranmere side who, once they fell behind, offered little resistance.

The token half chance at the death was prodded at goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin by Albion loanee Joss Labadie. But, as soon as Byfield had netted, the game was won.

It could have been so different had Rovers taken one of their golden first-half chances to bump up their tally.

Craig Curran poked wide from close range before Ian Thomas-Moore curled over in the visitors' bright opening. Ash Taylor had Gilmartin scrambling and, while it was little surprise when they took the lead, the nature of it was.

There was little danger when Rovers took a quick throw on the left but when Gareth Edds crossed Smith's wild slash nestled in the net.

A major setback for the Saddlers but Smith was not one to sulk and equalised with his third goal of the season - at the right end - thumping in a free header from Steve Jones' corner.

Alex Nicholls should have fired the Saddlers ahead instead of dragging wide after the break, before a malaise gripped proceedings until it was abruptly ended by Byfield with 20 minutes remaining.

Jamie Vincent, a model of consistency, fed the striker who shaped and shimmied past two challenges to roll under advancing keeper Luke Daniels.

Like dust in the wind, Tranmere scattered. While their survival hopes were not pinned on victory at the Banks's Stadium, three points would have gone a long way to securing their League One future.

Jones should have added some gloss on the result yett only found on-loan Baggies keeper Daniels' midriff after a quick break, but there were no late hiccups.

By Nick Mashiter