Ahead of Saturday's clash were taking a look back at the most recent meeting between the two sides, which was a Carling Cup - First Round match, which took place at the Crown Ground on Tuesday, 11th August 2009, and saw Stanley advance to the next stage.
The match would see ever-popular Walsall manager Chris Hutchings come up against long-serving Stanley boss John Coleman, who was ten years into his first stay with the club - he would go on to depart in 2012 before returning to the side in September 2014.
Walsall started the game well and went on to take the lead after nine minutes of play when Jamie Vincent's left-wing free-kick was volleyed home by attacker Alex Nicholls, who got the better of stopper Alan Martin from eight yards out.
Despite their promising start the Saddlers soon faced an uphill battle as they were reduced to ten men when captain Rhys Weston picked up two bookings in eleven minutes and saw red with just ten minutes of the first-half remaining.
Stanley took a little while to make their man advantage pay and would eventually level the scores seven minutes into the second forty-five as substitute Bobby Grant, who had replaced Chris King just three-minutes earlier, punished the Saddlers' backline after they failed to clear a ball which bobbled around the area before Grant hit the back of Rene Gilmartin's net.
Accrington continued their push for a winner and were desperately unlucky when second-half sub Sean McConville fired a shot which shook the frame of the goal seven minutes from time, but were soon rewarded for their patience as veteran striker Paul Mullin headed home McConville's injury-time cross to seal a second-round spot for the Reds.
In the end, Stanley wouldn't advance beyond the Second Round stage as Queens Park Rangers earned the win with goals from Hogan Ephraim (68'), and Wayne Routledge (90+1') helping them to defeat Accrington, this, despite Michael Symes' ninety-fourth minute consolation.
In the end, Stanley wouldn't advance beyond the Second Round stage as Queens Park Rangers earned the win with goals from Hogan Ephraim (68'), and Wayne Routledge (90+1') helping them to defeat Accrington, this, despite Michael Symes' ninety-fourth minute consolation.
Stanley
|
2 - 1
|
Walsall
|
Grant (53')
Mullin (90+1') |
Nicholls (9')
|
Attendance
|
1,041
|
Referee
|
Nigel Miller
|