Walsall talking points: Another blank, familiar themes and losing ground on rivals

Kofi Balmer rifled a sensational volley beyond Myles Roberts just three minutes later to put the seal on the win. 

Here are the main talking points from the defeat at the Memorial Stadium. 

Another blank

Walsall have failed to score in four out of six games in League Two since the turn of the year - including in three of their last four. 

In the first half, Walsall emerged with 52 per cent of the ball but mustered a lowly xG of just 0.05 - further underlining the lack of creativity in the Saddlers' ranks.

Leading scorer Kanu had a rare off-night and it's still difficult to see where the goals are going to come from besides the Charlton Athletic loanee. 

An injury, or a drop in form for Kanu, could spell serious danger, especially considering the lack of options in attack.

Jamille Matt and Albert Adomah boast a combined age of 74, Aaron Pressley has been struggling with injury and form, while Aaron Loupalo-Bi was not even called upon from the bench. 

The slide continues 

At Christmas, Walsall sat top of the league, and remained there after beating local rivals Crewe Alexandra 1-0 on Boxing Day. 

Since, the slide has been relentless, even if it does still remain tight at the top end of League Two. 

Walsall have dropped into seventh and have been cut 10 points adrift of league leaders Bromley, but they do sit just four behind the automatic promotion places.

However, they have picked up just six points from their last seven games and have the likes of Chesterfield, Grimsby Town and Crewe Alexandra breathing down their necks.

Familiar theme 

The game was cagey for the first hour until the Gas delivered the breakthrough just past the hour-mark. 

But the issue is that when it rains, as it did relentlessly (literally and metaphorically) at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday evening, it pours. 

Three minutes later and Rovers were 2-0 up albeit via an extraordinary volley by Balmer.

Walsall also conceded twice in quick succession at Chesterfield on Saturday and that type of capitulation is something Sadler needs to nip in the bud. 

Not only that, but it took two goals for Walsall to awaken from their slumber on the weekend, and they inevitably posed much more of an attacking threat as they chased the game in the closing stages in Bristol. 

Harrison Burke said after the Chesterfield draw that Walsall cannot afford to give themselves a mountain to climb in games, but that is exactly what they did again. 

Finding an attacking formula

Sadler has at least attempted to find different routes to goal by tweaking his midfield, or flipping between a 3-5-2 and a 3-4-3 formation, in recent weeks.

The latter ploy worked a treat in the second half at Chesterfield but was less fruitful on Tuesday. 

Jid Okeke's return on loan from Stockport County will provide Walsall with another attacking option at wing-back. 

However, the German was not able to be named in the squad because he had not been registered in time after re-joining on deadline day.