Walsall 0 Tranmere 1
Walsall were dumped out of the Carling Cup in the first round for the fourth successive season after defeat against Tranmere at the Banks's Stadium.
Walsall were dumped out of the Carling Cup in the first round for the fourth successive season after defeat against Tranmere at the Banks's Stadium.
Ian Goodison's scrappy winner six minutes before the break handed Rovers victory and consigned the Saddlers to their second defeat in four days.
The Saddlers limped to another disappointing defeat, after their 2-1 loss on the opening day to Milton Keynes Dons, against a side tipped to struggle in League One this season.
Goodison bundled in just before the break, after Walsall failed to deal with Paul McLaren's deep free kick.
But Alex Nicholls should have scored when Darren Byfield, after seizing on a quick Tranmere free-kick, found him after racing clear but goalkeeper Joe Collister saved his low drive just after the break.
Nick Wood almost added a second for Rovers but headed over after 53 minutes, as the Saddlers struggled to breakdown the visitors' defence and bowed out of the cup.
