Walsall moved 13 points clear at the top of Sky Bet League Two by beating strugglers Tranmere 5-1 to set a new club record of eight successive league wins.
A brace from Jamil Matt, plus goals from Ryan Sterke, Jamie Gillies and division top scorer Nathan Lowe, sealed victory for Walsall as Connor Jennings hit back against a 10-man Rovers side.
The leaders were lively from the start and Rovers goalkeeper Luke McGee made a smart save from Gillies’ shot before Matt headed home a Taylor Allen cross to give Walsall the lead in the 15th minute.
Sterk hit a wonderful shot into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area in the 22nd minute.
Sam Finlay was sent off in the 38th minute for two quick yellow cards, the second for deliberate handball, which briefly provoked Rovers and Jennings from 20 yards out a minute before half-time.
But Matt scored from close range in the 49th minute and then Gillis made it 4-1 in the 72nd minute with a shot from the near post that hit McGee’s goal.
Loan Stoke striker Lowe raised his tally to 15 when he converted a cross from Albert Adomah after eight minutes, as Rovers, who are four points away from the relegation zone, suffered their sixth consecutive defeat away from home in the league.
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