Walsall secured their first victory of 2026 this afternoon with a clinical 3-1 win over Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park. Despite controlling much of the possession, the Loons alumnus Ethan Bristow and his teammates were unable to overcome a three-goal deficit, as the visiting Saddlers made the most of their set-piece opportunities and counter-attacking clinical edge.
Match summary
The visitors set the tone inside the first two minutes when Jack Barrett was forced into a sharp save to deny Jamille Matt. Tranmere grew into the game midway through the first half, with Ethan Bristow proving to be one of the primary creative outlets on the left wing. However, the momentum shifted in the 37th minute when Priestley Farquharson rose highest to head home a corner from Evan Weir, giving Walsall a lead they would never relinquish.
The hill became a mountain for Rovers just before the interval. In the 45th minute, Daniel Kanu doubled the advantage, rounding the keeper and finishing with composure following a swift turnover in midfield. Jamille Matt added a third for the Saddlers midway through the second half, effectively putting the game out of reach before Joe Ironside grabbed a late consolation header for the hosts in stoppage time.
Bristow’s performance
Starting as the left wing-back in a 3-4-1-2 formation, Ethan Bristow was a constant presence in the final third during the first half. He nearly found the breakthrough himself in the 29th minute, racing onto a pass from Connor Jennings and escaping his marker, only to see his powerful left-footed effort drag agonizingly wide of the far post.
- Attacking threat: Bristow led the team in successful dribbles (2) and was a frequent target for cross-field switches as Tranmere looked to stretch the Walsall backline.
- Defensive shift: He was involved in a heavy collision in the 20th minute that required medical attention but showed his resilience by continuing the match and remaining active until he was substituted.
- Substitution: As manager Andy Crosby looked to chase the game, Bristow was replaced in the 78th minute by Patrick Brough as part of a triple attacking change.
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