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 the Saddlers enter their first cup competition of the new campaign.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
Walsall opened the new season with a welcome 1-0 win over Morecambe as Taylor Allen opened his account for the season with a strike from the edge of the area twenty minutes into the first half.
Although the opposition had seen plenty of upheaval over the summer, the Saddlers can only play what's in front of them and were not only able to rise to the occasion but went a good way to silencing some of their critics.
Of course, it's a long season and they'll clearly come up against much better opposition and will need to add some firepower if they are to have any chance of overcoming some of the more potent attacks that will pass through the Bescot, but the early signs are positive ones.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Walsall will be without club captain Donervon Daniels, midfielder Brandon Comley, and striker Danny Johnson as they continue their road to recovery.
Ronan Maher is back in contention after missing the victory over Morecambe through suspension.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Opponents Exeter City also began the 2024/25 campaign with a narrow 1-0 win as second-half substitute Caleb Watts grabbed the only goal of the game against Rotherham United.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Exeter City have met on eighty-three previous occasions, and it's the Saddlers who hold a comfortable win/loss advantage, having won on forty occasions compared to the Grecians' twenty-seven.
There have also been sixteen draws in the history of the fixture, a history which began at St James Park on Saturday, 17th December 1927 as the Saddlers and Grecians met in a Division Three (South) clash which our hosts would go on to win by three-goals-to-nil.
The most recent League Cup meeting took place back in August 2001 and saw the Saddlers secure a narrow 1-0 win as Moreira Herivelto netted the only goal of the game midway through the second half.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting was a League Two match that took place at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday, 22nd January 2022, and saw the Grecians win by two goals to nil.
The first goal of the match arrived just before first-half stoppage time, as Timothée Dieng headed home from an Archie Collins corner kick. Yet more slack defending, sending the Saddlers into the break a goal behind.
The Saddlers were dealt a further blow in the second half as defender Rollin Menayese was shown the red card, after collecting a second yellow, adding to the already growing defensive issues.
The match was ultimately settled with five minutes of normal time remaining as Cheick Diabate put the ball beyond Carl Rushworth and into the back of the net, the goal arriving mere moments after the stopper had pulled off a superb save.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Jacob Miles will be the man in the middle, whilst Samuel Fudge and Oliver Spender have been named assistant referees. Daniel Middleton will act as Fourth Official.
This is Miles' second season in the EFL as he was promoted from non-league football at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
Last season he took charge of 21 games across a variety of competitions where he issued 84 yellow and one red card.