Don't forget to join us across our social media channels where we'll bring you all the matchday build-up, in-game updates, and post-match reaction as Walsall make the trip to Greater Manchester.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
Walsall are back in action this weekend as they make the trip to the Peninsula Stadium for a meeting with fellow early-season strugglers Salford City.
After picking up just their second league win of the season - Isaac Hutchinson's thunderbolt securing three points at home to Colchester United - the Saddlers are hoping to make it two in two as they take on the Ammies.
Despite their win over the U's, Mat Sadler's side have been in somewhat indifferent form as of late and have to make more of their goal-scoring opportunities if they are to make any inroads into the upper echelons of the table.
Just looking at their two most recent games, Walsall have had some thirty-three shots (13 on target), numbers that are a world away from the team that struggled to muster anything mildly threatening in the final third.
With their new attacking threat comes the need to make more of their opportunities and, though they haven't gone a game without scoring a goal, the team is still guilty of failing to kill off their opposition on several occasions, something they can ill afford to continue if they want to make something of this campaign.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
The Saddlers will be without defender Liam Gordon who is off on international duty, but will have welcome back veteran defender Chris Hussey after he missed last weekend's victory over Colchester United through suspension.
Meanwhile, Rollin Menayese, Jack Earing, and Brandon Comley remain some way away from a return to the fold as they continue to work their way back to full fitness after suffering a variety of injuries and issues.
OPPOSITION NEWS
As with the Saddlers, Salford City have won just two of their six opening league games and arrive at the match on the back of a duo of defeats with Accrington Stanley and Morecambe taking the spoils from their recent meetings.
Along with the league losses the Ammies also felt the wrath of Bolton Wanderers in midweek as they lost three-nil on their first outing of the EFL Trophy group stage, a result which only adds to their recent woes.
Despite their slow start, Salford will be in a confident mood as they welcome Mat Sadler's side to town as they have won their last three home games against Walsall, whilst the Saddlers have failed to score in two of their last three visits to the North West.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Salford City have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
SALFORD CITY
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Saddlers and Ammies have met on just eight previous occasions, and it's Salford who hold an overall head-to-head lead, having won six times compared to Walsall's two.
The first meeting took place at Banks's Stadium on Saturday, 5th October 2019, and saw the visitors ease to victory by three-goal-to-nil as Luke Armstrong, Jake Jervis, and Ibou Touray all hit the back of the net.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting was a League Two clash that took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 22nd April, and saw Salford secure all three points in a five-goal game.
The visitors were fastest out of the traps as they opened the scoring with just six-minutes on the clock as Callum Hendry got on the end of a Liam Shephard cross and headed the ball past Owen Evans and into the back of the net.
Walsall got themselves back on level terms in the second half as Jamille Matt bagged his second goal in a Saddlers shirt after he got on the end of a Liam Gordon ball to send a stooping header home.
Sadly, for the Saddlers, and despite their visitors being reduced to ten men after Louie Barry was sent off, they weren't able to retain their share of the spoils as substitute Conor McAleny put his side ahead with 88 minutes on the clock.
The goals didn't end there, however, as Conor Wilkinson came off the bench to put the Saddlers back on level terms only for fellow substitute Matty Lund to restore the visitors' lead just moments later.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Paul Howard, who is based in London, will be the man in the middle, as he takes charge of just his second league game of the season.
Ivan Stankovic and Steven Rushton have been named assistant referees, whilst Declan Ford will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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0
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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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