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PRE-MATCH VIEWS
The Saddlers arrive at this weekend's match on the back of Bank Holiday Monday's defeat to Crawley Town - their third defeat in four league games - and in search of a welcome win over near-rivals Port Vale.
Despite already securing their place in the fourth tier - Good Friday;s victory over Carlisle United seeing the Saddlers finally make it mathmatically impossible for the team to pay a visit to the National League - more points are needed in order to ensure this season is a little better than the last.
With several players currently sitting in the physio room, including the unfortunate Conor Wilkinson, there are plenty of spaces in the matchday squad which should be filled by prospects in the academy.
Though this season will not go down as one of the greats, it could well be one where we introduce the next generation of potential idols for Saddlers fans to take a look at ahead of the new campaign.
Opponents Port Vale also arrive at the match on the back of a defeat as they fell at the ends of Bristol Rovers, who inflicted their first defeat in ten games, leaving them seven points off the top of the table heading into this weekend's match.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Port Vale have met on ninety-six previous occasions and it's the Saddlers who hold a comfortable win/ loss advantage, having won on forty-five occasions compared to the Valiants' twenty-five.
There have also been twenty-six over the history of the fixture, a history which began at the Athletic Ground on Saturday, 31st December 1892 as Burslem Port Vale and Walsall Town Swifts met in a League Division Two match which the home side won by three-goals-to-nil. The two sides went on to trade victories for the next two years, with each side earning three wins from their first six encounters.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The EFL has confirmed that Tom Nield, who is based in West Yorkshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Marvyn Amphlett and Oliver Bickle have been named assistant referees. Thomas Harty will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
|
27
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
190
| 3
|
PENALTIES AWARDED
|
6
|
CATCH THE MATCH
If you're not planning on going to the game you can catch the match via the club's in-house service - iFollow Walsall - which takes you through the highs and lows of every Saddlers game.
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