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 Notts County at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall's Emirates FA Cup run came to a disappointing end at the weekend as they were handed a 4-0 drubbing by League One side Charlton Athletic as everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Looking to add to their recent run of positive results and strong performances against a host of League One sides, including Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town in the EFL Trophy, Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup, and Bolton Wanderers in the First Round, the Saddlers should have gone into the game full of confidence.
However, after struggling to hold former National League side Bromley to a draw in midweek, the players looked far more tentative on Saturday afternoon and were unable to lay a glove on their opponents as defensive errors, attacking miscues and injuries to Jamie Jellis and Brandon Comley saw them humbled in front of over 6,000 supporters.
With very little time to dwell, Tuesday evening's game represents an opportunity for the Saddlers to get back on the horse as they welcome Notts County to the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
Win and the team will at least keep pace with league leaders Port Vale ahead of a real six pointer against the Valiants next weekend, lose and the visit to Vale Park will carry even more pressure than it already does.
After several seasons in mid table mediocrity, its still a little strange to be looking at games as opportunities to continue a charge towards promotion rather than a chance to build a buffer over the relegation zone, and long may it continue.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Midfielders Jamie Jellis (calf) and Brandon Comley (broken jaw) have joined Priestley Farquharson (thigh), Dylan Thomas (dislocated shoulder), and Josh Gordon (hamstring) on the sidelines after picking up injuries during Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Notts County were also knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup at the weekend, though they put up more of a fight as Peterborough United scraped through 4-3 at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Looking at their league form, and the Magpies have lost just one of their last seven games with their most recent outing seeing them and opponents Newport County play out a goalless draw.
They've lost just one of their nine away trips so far this season and will be looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra and close the gap on one of their promotion rivals on Tuesday evening.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Notts County have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
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NOTTS COUNTY |
WDDWD
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
Of the sixty-six previous meetings, it's Notts County that hold the overall lead with twenty-six wins to the Saddlers' twenty-three, There have also been seventeen draws during the fixture's history.
Their first meeting took place on Saturday, 20th January 1894, and ended 2-0 to the Magpies. The two sides' second meeting, which took place at Fellows Park, on Monday, 12th March 1894 ended 2-1 to the Saddlers, who were then known as Walsall Town Swifts.
Walsall won four, drew one, and lost five of the first ten meetings, the run of games included some large scorelines including 5-0, 5-2, and 6-1 defeats.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the Saddlers and Magpies was a League Two match that took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 13th April 2024 and saw the visitors win 3-1.
The first goal of the game came with around two-minutes on the clock as the visitors started the game with a bang, Macauley Langstaff stroking the ball home after the Saddlers backline was put under immediate pressure.
County went on to double their lead with twenty-eight minutes on the clock with Aaron Nemane the man to put the ball into the back of Owen Evans' net. A difficult afternoon for the Saddlers, who had been denied an equaliser earlier in the game with the flag raised for offside.
Walsall, who had been reduced to ten men earlier in the half, went on to grab a goal of their own with around twenty minutes remaining as Mo Faal slotted the ball over the line to give his side some hope.
Sadly, that hope was quickly quashed as the visitors added their third almost immediately after, with Sam Austin restoring their two-goal lead.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that David Rock who is based in Hertfordshire will take charge of the match with Karl Buckley and Kevin Morris being named as assistant referees, whilst Kevin Howick has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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12
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
50
| 2
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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2
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