Walsall 4-2 Tranmere - report: Evan Weir scores stunning double in Saddlers win

Weir opened the scoring with a delightful free-kick inside the first nine minutes, before Joe Ironside levelled seven minutes before the break. 

Irishman Weir doubled his tally with an exquisite half-volley on the cusp of half-time and Kanu doubled the Saddlers' advantage in the 61st-minute.

Billy Blacker's deflected effort halved the deficit in the 89th-minute, but substitute Albert Adomah put the seal on the win with a fourth just two minutes later.

That result, which extended the Saddlers' unbeaten run to five games, keeps them in third spot, and two points adrift of top.

Analysis

Walsall made a bright start and were rewarded when Weir delivered the breakthrough with a moment of magic from his wand of a left foot. 

Just as he did in the opening day win against Swindon, the Irishman curled a beautiful free-kick over the ball and into the far top corner. 

Kanu was inches away from adding a quickfire second for the Saddlers but drove a deflected effort just wide from the edge of the box.

That early promise tailed off somewhat although Tranmere initially failed to trouble Myles Roberts between the sticks. 

Richie Smallwood came closest for them when he swept a low shot wide from the edge of the box, just seconds after Aden Flint had crucially cut out Charlie Whitaker's pass in behind.

Tranmere continued to grow into the contest and showcased their clinical streak when Ironside added the finishes touches to Davison's low feed at the end of a sweeping move. 

It almost got worse for Walsall when Kanu headed the ball against his own crossbar, with Jordan Turnbull heading over from the resulting corner kick.

But it was Walsall who led at the break after Weir upstaged himself with a goal that was even better than his first in the fifth minute of stoppage time. 

Weir started the move, striding forward from deep to drag Walsall forward. Vincent Harper's cross was only partially cleared and Weir unleashed a stunning half-volley into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Walsall were the side asking the questions after the break, and in particular Kanu, who was a thorn to the Tranmere defence. 

The Charlton Athletic loanee squeezed an effort from an acute angle which deflected towards goal, but Joe Murphy managed to sweep the ball away with his trailing leg. 

Murphy would have no such luck when Kanu doubled the Saddlers' lead just past the hour-mark. 

Connor Barrett released Kanu who was beginning to peal away from his marker but the Sierra Leone frontman still had plenty of work to do. He nonchalantly checked inside and showed ice-cold composure to tuck his finish into the far bottom corner.

The Saddlers were clearly not satisfied with just three and had more chances to extend their advantage. 

Substitute Courtney Clarke broke down the left and hung an inviting cross to the back post. Pressley cushioned it down and tested Murphy, who then got down to deny Kanu on the rebound. 

The Tranmere goalkeeper managed to scoop another effort away after Walsall scrambled the ball towards goal from the resulting corner. They managed to keep the attack alive, but Harrison Burke guided a deft chip just wide of the target.

Walsall sat back for the closing stages and naturally had to weather a late charge by Tranmere. Connor Jennings forced Myles Roberts into a rare save at his near post, before Billy Blacker pulled one back with a deflected effort from distance. 

Everyone prepared themselves for a nail-biting five minutes of stoppage time, but substitute Adomah eased those nerves by restoring their two-goal cushion with a calm finish on the counter-attack.

Teams 

Walsall (3-1-4-2): Roberts; Burke (Farquharson 76), Flint, Weir; Warrington (Comley 62); Barrett, Finnigan (Clarke 62), Lakin, Harper; Pressley (Matt 81), Kanu (Adomah 81).

Not used: Hornby, Richards.

Tranmere (4-4-2): Murphy; Joseph, Lowe (Turnbull 28), Smith, Brough (Norman 70); Whittaker (Jennings 78), Smallwood, Kenneh (Blacker 70), Patrick; Ironside, Davison (Harris 70).

Not used: Barrett, Solomon.

Other details: 

Referee: Edward Duckworth

Attendance: 6,010