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.