Jamille Matt hits brace as leaders Walsall beat Tranmere for eighth straight win

Walsall moved 13 points clear at the top of Sky Bet League Two by thrashing struggling Tranmere 5-1 to set a new club record of eight successive league wins.

Jamille Matt’s double, plus goals from Ryan Stirk, Jamie Jellis and the division’s top scorer Nathan Lowe, earned Walsall victory with Connor Jennings replying for 10-man Rovers.

The leaders were lively from the start and Rovers goalkeeper Luke McGee saved smartly from Jellis’ volley before Matt looped home a header from Taylor Allen’s cross to give Walsall a 15th-minute lead.

Stirk rifled a fine strike into the bottom corner from just outside the area in the 22nd minute.

Sam Finley’s 38th-minute dismissal for two quick bookings, the second a deliberate handball, briefly galvanised Rovers and Jennings drilled in from 20 yards a minute before the break.

But Matt stabbed home from close range in the 49th minute and Jellis made it 4-1 in the 72nd minute with a near-post shot that deflected past McGee.

On-loan Stoke striker Lowe took his tally to 15 by converting Albert Adomah’s cross eight minutes later as Rovers, four points off the drop zone, suffered a sixth straight away league defeat.