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 take on Swindon Town on Saturday afternoon.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
Walsall opened their 2024/25 League Two campaign with a 1-0 victory over Morecambe at the Poundland Bescot Stadium last weekend.
Taylor Allen's goal twenty-minutes into the first-half, along with plenty of stubborn defending, proved to be enough to see the Saddlers home to a welcome victory.
Though the result was far from comfortable, the three points are all that matters, especially as the Saddlers went into the match under something of a cloud following a fairly poor preseason campaign.
In midweek the Saddlers took on Exeter City in Round One of the Carabao Cup and, despite Josh Gordon's missed penalty in the second-half, a late Jamie Jellis goal took the game to penalties where Josh would complete the ultimate 'Roy of the Rovers' story by scoring the winning spot-kick.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
The Saddlers will continue to be without captain Donervon Daniels, midfielder Brandon Comley, and striker Danny Johnson as they continue their respective recoveries from injury.
POTENTIAL WALSALL LINE-UP
Walsall boss Mat Sadler is likely to select a side similar to the one that defeated Morecambe on the opening day of the season.
Last weekend, Simkin; McEntee, Farquharson, Allen; Stirk; C. Barrett, Lakin, Jellis, L.Gordon; Matt, and J. Gordon started the game, and we wouldn't be surprised to see that XI named once again.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Opponents Swindon Town opened their league campaign with a one-all draw away to newly-promoted Chesterfield as Will Wright cancelled out Armando Dobra's opener to seal a point for the Robins.
Their midweek Carabao Cup outing didn't go quite so well as, despite dragging themselves back level after falling 2-0 down in the first-half, Crawley Town secured a place in Round Two with a 402 win.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been a total of 107 competitive meetings between Walsall and Swindon Town. And it's the Robins who hold a small overall lead having won 40 times compared to the Saddlers' 37.
There have also been thirty draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at the County Ground on Saturday, 15th October 1927 as the two sides met in a Division Three (South) clash which the Robins won by five-goals-to-nil.
The Saddlers would also go on to lose the next two meetings, conceding another seven goals in the process, as their opponents enjoyed a strong start to the rivalry.
In fact, Walsall wouldn't secure their first victory over Swindon until their fifth meeting, which took place at Fellows Park on Monday, 23rd September 1929, and saw the Saddlers triumph four-nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, 16th April 2024, and saw Walsall win by two-goals-to-one.
The Saddlers started the game well and created a few chances before Mo Faal was ultimately able to open the scoring with a header that took his tally to five goals in a Walsall shirt.
Walsall were wasteful in front of goal and were eventually punished as Pau Galtzel levelled the scores midway through the second-half. The striker dealing a major blow to the Saddlers' Play-Off hopes.
The Saddlers were forced to withstand plenty of Swindon pressure but were able to go on and grab a crucial winning goal as substitute Danny Johnson capped off an attacking move with a welcome goal.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Lee Swabey who is based in Devon, will be the man in the middle, whilst Alan Cresswell and Ryan Head have been named assistant referees. Adam Ricketts will act as Fourth Official.
Swabey is yet to take charge of a match so far this season but did officiate over 27 games across various competitions last season where he issued 128 yellow and 5 red cards.