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 look to make it six wins in as many league games.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall's superb spell of form continued on Boxing Day as they defeated Doncaster Rovers 2-0 at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
Marking their fifth win in as many games, Mat Sadler's side have now gone twelve league games without defeat as they enjoy a healthy nine-point advantage at the top of the table.
Second half goals from Nathan Lowe, who continues to make the most of his loan spell in WS1, and defender Harry Williams helped the team to take advantage of Port Vale's defeat to Bradford City.
Along with the wins have come a run of four clean sheets as Stoke City stopper Tommy Simkin and his backline continue to thwart any and all advances, with the team as a whole working incredibly well together.
Opponents Newport County will reach Sunday's match on the back of a 5-2 defeat to Bromley. Coming just days after a superb 6-3 triumph over Milton Keynes Dons, the defeat to former National League side shows the Exiles are a team that is more than capable of causing an upset but is also beatable.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Midfielder George Hall recently suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to miss several weeks of action as he undergoes treatment with parent club Birmingham City.
Brandon Comley (broken jaw) could return soon, whilst Priestley Farquharson (thigh) and Josh Gordon (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Newport County have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
|
NEWPORT COUNTY |
WWWWW
| DDDWL
|
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Newport County have met on seventy-two previous occasions, and it's the Exiles who hold an overall Head-to-Head lead, having won on twenty-eight previous occasions compared to the Saddlers' twenty-four.
There have also been twenty draws over the fixture's history, a history which began at Fellows Park on Saturday, 8th October 1927 as the two sides met in a Division Three (South) clash which Newport won by three goals to nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 10th February 2024 and saw the Exiles ease to victory by three-goals-to-nil.
The opening goal of the game went the way of the visitors as former Walsall loanee Bryn Morris saw an effort deflect off Seb Palmer-Houlden, past Owen Evans and into the back of the net, an Adam Lewis cross causing confusion in the area ahead of the goal.
Newport also went on to grab the second goal of the afternoon as Will Evans slammed the ball into the top corner as Walsall just couldn't quell their visitors' advances.
County's dominance continued as they grabbed a third goal of the game with around seven minutes of the first-half still to be played, this time substitute Harry Charsley was the man to head the ball home.
To add to their woes, Walsall were reduced to ten men late in the game as goalkeeper Owen Evans handled the ball outside the area, giving referee Lee Swabey little option but to issue the red card.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Carl Brook who is based in East Sussex will take charge of the match with Mark Cunliffe and Timothy Walker being named as assistant referees, whilst Emmanuel Edet has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
|
18
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
80
| 2
|
PENALTIES AWARDED
|
2
|