Walsall will be back in cup action on Tuesday evening as they travel to the Weston Homes Stadium where they're due to take on Peterborough United in the Vertu Trophy, Round of 16.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
After making it a club record eight wins in as many league games at the weekend, focus now turns to the EFL Trophy and a Round of 16 clash with League One Peterborough United.
Putting ten-man Tranmere Rovers to the sword as three second-half goals put paid to their brief flirtation with a comeback, the Saddlers continue to lead the way at the top of the table.
A Jamille Matt brace, his 99th and 100th career goals in the EFL, along with efforts from Ryan Stirk, Jamie Jellis, and Nathan Lowe cancelled out Connor Jennings' lead-halving goal as defeat was avoided once again.
Opponents Peterborough weren't in action over the weekend, as they had faced Premier League opposition in the shape of Everton in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup on Thursday evening.
Goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye saw the Posh knocked out of the competition, though they were unlucky not to have troubled the scorers, as both Cian Hayes and Ricky-Jade Jones saw efforts thwarted.
In terms of league form, and Darren Ferguson's side have won just one of their last nine and none of their last five, with their most recent league game seeing Wrexham win by a late Steven Fletcher goal to nil.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Jack Earing (ankle) has been ruled out for around months following surgery earlier in the week. George Hall (hamstring) and Priestley Farquharson (thigh) are also long-term absentees, whilst Josh Gordon (hamstring) and Ronan Maher (ankle) are moving ever-closer to a return to the matchday squad.
The Saddlers will be without star strike Nathan Lowe as parent club Stoke City opted to recall the youngster from his loan spell. Netting eighteen goals across thirty first-team appearances, Nathan will be difficult to replace as the Saddlers seek to continue their fine run of form.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been fifty-seven competitive meetings between Walsall and Peterborough United, and it's the Saddlers who enjoy a head-to-head advantage, with twenty-two wins compared to the Posh's nineteen. (16 draws)
The first meeting between the Saddlers and Posh took place at Fellows Park on Saturday, 5th December 1959 as the two sides met in an FA Cup, Second Round clash.
The Saddlers, who had knocked Swindon Town out in the First Round, saw their competition come to an end as the Posh squeezed through by three-goals-to-two,
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting was a League One clash that took place at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday, 27th April 2019 and saw the Saddlers win comfortably by three-goals-to-nil.
Walsall's goals came via Andy Cook, Josh Gordon and an unfortunate Danny Lafferty. You can read our Match Report, here.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Scott Simpson, who is based in Staffordshire, will take charge of the match with Declan Ford and David Harrison being named as assistant referees. David Nicholson has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
|
18
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
70
| 1
|
PENALTIES AWARDED
|
6
|
