TRANMERE fell to a 3-1 home defeat to play off chasing Walsall despite taking a first half lead. 

Regan Hendry opened the scoring for the home side in the 24th minute when he calmly placed a left-footed effort past Jackson Smith in the Walsall goal.

Hendry had earlier missed a glorious chance to open the scoring but fired his shot wide with only Smith to beat.

At the other end, Isaac Hutchinson and Emmanuel Adegboyega had both been denied by Luke McGee in the Rovers’ goal before Jamille Matt equalised on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors started the second period on the front foot and went close through Ryan Stirk and Josh Gordon.

But it was a Taylor Allen free-kick that deceived the entire Tranmere defence to put the Saddlers ahead after 57 minutes.

And the points were secured 10 minutes later when Brandon Comley found the bottom corner with a perfectly placed right-footed effort.

The defeat leaves Tranmere with just one point from their last four games and they lie 17th in the League Two table.