Walsall will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as they make their way to Prenton Park where they'll take on Tranmere Rovers in a televised League Two clash.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
After winning their two previous league outings, the pressure is on for the Saddlers to add another three points to their tally as they take on a Rovers side that is yet to score a goal in the league, though they did put three past Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup.
Looking to build upon last weekend's walloping of Exeter City - the Saddlers scoring four goals without reply - Head Coach Mat Sadler has the welcome headache of deciding whether or not to change his team in light of an ever-increasing fixture load.
Defender Taylor Allen has started the season in superb form, scoring twice and creating another, it's not surprising to see his following grow as supporters appreciate his hard work in both attack and defence.
Tranmere may well be winless in the league but it'd be silly to draw too much given the number of games still to play. They've got to win eventually, and it's up to the Saddlers to make sure it's not this weekend.
With new signing Reyes Cleary vying for a place in the side, it'll be interesting to see how the gaffer decides to set up. Plorific in the youth ranks, Reyes could be a breakout star this season, especially if he can hit the ground running.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
The Saddlers will once again be without the services of Donervon Daniels, Brandon Comley and Danny Johnson as they continue to work their way back from a variety of injury issues, though DJ has returned to training.
Josh Gordon limped off during the comfortable win over Exeter and is a doubt for the trip to the Wirral.
On-loan strikers Reyes Cleary (West Bromwich Albion) and Nathan Lowe (Stoke City) are available for selection after signing on a season-long loans earlier this week.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Tranmere Rovers have met on eighty-one previous occasions and it's the Saddlers who hold an overall win/loss advantage having won thirty-eight times compared to Rovers' twenty-seven.
There have also been sixteen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Rovers' Prenton Park on Saturday, 10th September 1921 as the two sides met in a Division Three (North) clash in which the Saddlers won by one-goal-to-nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the two took place at Rovers' Prenton Park on Saturday, 6th April 2024 and saw the Saddlers win 3-1.
The first goal of the game went the way of the home side as Regan Hendry sent a low, curling effort past Jackson Smith and into the bottom corner of the Walsall goal.
The leveller arrived just before half-time as Joe Foulkes' cross found the head of the in-form Jamille Matt, who was only too happy to put his side back on level terms.
Walsall went into the lead a few minutes short of the hour mark as Taylor Allen put the ball into the back of the net via a well-placed free-kick from midway into the Rovers half of the pitch.
The Saddlers' third goal of the game arrived via the foot of Brandon Comley, who unleashed a superb effort from distance to give his side a welcome advantage.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Thomas Parsons who is based in Lancashire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Kevin Morris and Oliver Nolan have been named assistant referees. Ruebyn Ricardo will act as Fourth Official.
Parsons has taken charge of just one game so far this season where he saw fit to issue five yellow cards.