Walsall were back in action on Friday evening as they welcomed title-chasing Wrexham to Poundland Bescot Stadium for their final League Two game of 2023.
Looking to build upon their Boxing Day victory over Crewe Alexandra, the Saddlers were faced with an in-form Wrexham side looking to at least retain the gap between themselves and table-topping Stockport County.
The game's opening goal went the way of the Saddlers as Jack Earing, who was making his first start in exactly twelve months, got on the end of a Freddie Draper backheel before sending the ball into the back of the net.
Unfortunately for the Saddlers, their lead didn't last long as Tom Knowles was adjudged to have handled inside the area with Paul Mullin being only too happy to take the spot kick, which he dispatched beyond Jackson Smith and over the line.
Walsall went back into the lead as the game reached the hour mark when Isaac Hutchinson, who had been felled just outside the area, unleashed a superb free-kick, which gave the visiting goalkeeper no chance.
The Saddlers added to their lead with seven minutes of normal time remaining as second-half substitute Taylor Allen got on the end of a ricochet to put his side further into the lead.
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO
| WALSALL | 3-1 | WREXHAM |
| EARING (16') HUTCHINSON (60') ALLEN (83') |
GOALSCORERS |
MULLIN (P) (24') |
| DRAPER (16') | ASSISTS | |
| 50 | POSS (%) | 50 |
| 22 | SHOTS (TOTAL) | 17 |
| 8 | SHOTS (ON TARGET) | 6 |
| 2 | CORNERS | 4 |
| 7 | FOULS | 9 |
| 3 | YELLOW CARDS | 1 |
| 0 | RED CARDS | 0 |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| ATTENDANCE | 8,709 (2,258 WREXHAM) |
| REFEREE | PAUL HOWARD |
WALSALL
Smith; Daniels, Okagbue, Farquharson 🟨; Knowles 🟨, Comley, Earing (Allen, 75'), Gordon; Hutchinson, Draper, Matt (James-Taylor, 46' 🟨)
Unused: Evans; Foulkes, Williams; Maher, Johnson
WREXHAM
Okonkwo; Cleworth (Barnett, 82'), Tozer, O'Connor, Mendy (Forde, 61'), Cannon 🟨, Young (J.Davies, 61'), Lee, McClean, Mullin, Dalby (Fletcher, 61')
Unused: Howard; Boyle, Bickerstaff