Fresh from triumphing in the FA Cup last weekend, we are back in league action when Simon Weaver and his side head to Walsall tomorrow looking to continue a fine spell of form away from home.
The 5-1 victory at Marine made it four wins on the bounce on the road in all competitions and five unbeaten in total and they will be looking to continue the run against a side they have had generally had the better of since promotion to the EFL.
Our opponents
Town travel to the Poundland Bescot Stadium sitting three spots and a single place behind their opponents.
The Saddlers come into the game winless in their last three league outings but have been defeated just once on home soil this season, taking 12 points from seven games. Like Town, they also progressed through to round two of the FA Cup with a 4-1 defeat of non-league outfit Sheppey United.
Previous meetings
Town went down to a 3-1 defeat away to Walsall a season ago, the first defeat against the Saddlers since promotion to the EFL. First-half goals from Danny Johnson, Liam Gordon and Isaac Hutchinson gave the hosts a 3-0 lead before a late consolation from Matty Daly reduced the arrears.
Town had previously won by the same scoreline in 201/22 thanks to strikes from Simon Power, Jack Diamond and Luke Armstrong and took a point in 2020/21 following a goalless draw.
The man in charge
Mat Sadler will go head to head with Simon Weaver for the first time since taking over as Walsall manager from Michael Flynn at the end of last season.
This is his first managerial position after a playing career that saw him make almost 500 appearances for the likes of Birmingham City, Watford, Shrewsbury, Crawley and Walsall as well as representing England at youth level.
Ones to watch
There is plenty of firepower available to Walsall, with the summer capture of Danny Johnson seeing the Saddlers seal a permanent move for a player who had previously shone whilst on loan.
Alongside Johnson, the club can also boast former Forest Green Rovers striker Jamille Matt and Aramide Oteh but it is youngster Freddie Draper, on loan from Lincoln City, who has stood out having netted eight times this season. Draper is a doubt for the game through injury though.
The club added former Newport midfielder Priestley Farquharson for this season to bolster a midfield that has seen Isaac Hutchinson hit five goals and add two assists.
The dependable Donervon Daniels has been a feature in the backline once again at the back alongside former Carlisle man Joe Riley.
History
Walsall have spent the vast majority of their time in the third tier of English football, last playing in the Championship in the early 2000’s. They were relegated to League Two at the end of the 2018/19 season and have posted mid-table finishes since.
They moved to their current all-seater home, Banks’s Stadium, in 1990 and posted a record attendance of 11,049 in 2004 against Rotherham. The all-time leader in appearances for the club is Jimmy Walker, who played 534 times across two spells, whilst Alan Buckley is their leading goalscorer, netting 202 times in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Team news
Simon Weaver is without any injury concerns heading into the game.
