A cold, dry, clear evening brought Walsall to the Keepmoat Stadium for the first time. Both the Rovers and the Saddlers won their respective games last Saturday, with Walsall, at the bottom of the table before the game, going to high flying Hartlepool United and coming away with a win by a single goal. The three points took them clear of the bottom four. The Rovers made one change from Saturday, Sean McDaid coming in for Gareth Roberts, who came off with a hamstring problem. Before the start of the game a minute's silence was held in memory of Len Graham, a great player for the Rovers in the 1950s. It was observed in perfect silence. The Rovers, as is their custom, defended the South Stand end in the first half.

Walsall, in a natty strip of blue shirts and yellow shorts, got the game going but it was the Rovers who made the first incursion into enemy territory when Guy went down the left before crossing to the middle but no red and white shirted player could get on the end of it. The home team virtually camped in the visitors half in the first fifteen minutes causing problems for Walsall, who had two players booked in the fifth minute, Fox for a bad tackle on Hayter and Mooney, not retreating at the free kick. In the 17 th minute the pressure paid off when McDaid put a pinpoint corner kick from the left on to the head of MILLS, in the middle, who did the needful to put the Rovers one up. The visitors had only made cursory ventures into the Rovers half by the 28th minute when they were awarded a free kick about 25 yards from goal. FOX stepped up and fired past the wall and Sullivan for an equalising goal, completely against the run of play. This was a setback for the home team but it inspired the Saddlers to get into the game and have a fair share of it, particularly in the attacking department. Stock, for the Rovers, had a free kick deflected over the Walsall bar and another free kick headed over by Heffernan, who had got behind the defence. Walsall's reply was a corner which was half-volleyed over the bar from close range by Gerrard. Then, on 40 minutes, a free kick from the Rovers right was put to the far post for GUY, behind his defender, to bundle into the net and put the Rovers back into the lead. The Saddlers tried to hit back but Gerrard again put over the bar from 15 yards following a corner. The Rovers went in at the break with a 2-1 lead.

The Rovers made a change for the second half, James Coppinger coming on for Heffernan, who was suffering from a groin strain. Walsall came out and had the Rovers on the defensive for most of the first fifteen minutes. Demontagnac put a tame header wide to a good cross from the right by Sonka and on 57 minutes, Mooney made space in the penalty area to fire in a terrific drive only to see Sullivan tip it on to the bar and Mills make the clearance.Two minutes later and Sullivan was in action again to tip over the bar from Bradley. From the corner on the Walsall right, swung in left footed by Demontagnac, Bradley headed firmly on goal from close range but Sullivan arched his back to tip over the bar. Minutes later, a free kick to Walsall on their left was met at the far post by Gerrard but his header was beaten out by Sullivan. After 66 minutes, the visitors were awarded a free kick on their right touchline halfway in the Rovers half. Placed to the far post it was met on the half volley by BRADLEY and the scores were level again. Four minutes later, Sullivan was adjudged to have brought down Sonka in the penalty area as he came in to challenge Sullivan who had the ball in his hands. MOONEY despatched the penalty kick and put the Saddlers in front for the first time. They were good value for it at this stage too, having dominated the second half. The Rovers tried to hit back but their fluency of the first half was missing, with the star of that half, Guy, being anonymous. Walsall had learned a lot from that first half and applied the remedy. After 83 minutes, Walsall could have scored another but Price was there to head off the line and over the bar. The Rovers pushed Lockwood up front for the final minutes and the move paid off in the 90th minute when he was brought down in the penalty area by Weston. The referee awarded the penalty without hesitation and Coppinger picked the ball up and placed it on the spot. Having had one attempt to take it halted he then scuffed the ball wide past the left hand post. A minute later and the referee stopped play and pulled out a red card and flourished at Guy, who had obviously said something out of place. With such a golden chance missed the match ran down to it's close with Walsall taking all three points. To use an old cliche it was a clear case of two halves.

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Sean McDaid; Richie Wellens, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson; Lewis Guy, James Hayter, Paul Heffernan.

Subs used - James Coppinger for Heffernan 46 mins; Paul Green for Stock 63 mins; Jason Price for Hayter 75 mins;

Subs not used - Steve Roberts, Craig Nelthorpe.

Cautions - Wilson, O'Connor,

Sent off - Guy, 90 mins.

Walsall - Clayton Ince; Darren Wrack, Anthony Gerrard, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox; Edrissa Sonka, Dwayne Mattis, Michael Dobson, Mark Bradley, Ishmel Demontagnac; Tommy Mooney,

Subs used - Rhys Weston for Wrack 73 mins; David McDermott for Demontagnac 90mins;

Subs not used -  Paul Hall, Troy Deeney, Bertrand Bossu gk.

Cautions - Fox, Mooney, Demontagnac, Mattis,