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 Walsall welcome Salford City to the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall return to action on Saturday afternoon as they take on fellow promotion hopefuls Salford City, with the table-topping Saddlers looking to avoid a third defeat in a row.
Back to back losses to Bradford City and Fleetwood Town have seen the Saddlers' lead cut to nine points as Doncaster Rovers made it three wins in a row with a midweek triumph over Barrow.
Despite seeing a record-breaking winning run halted after nine games, there are still plenty of reasons for optimism among the players and fans, as there was always going to be a spell of the season where things didn't go to plan.
With Nathan Lowe back in the Potteries, and the likes of Jack Eairng and Jamille Matt, to name just two, sitting on the sidelines, it's not exactly surprising that goals have begun to dry up.
Relying on a tactic that usually sees the team secure a small level of possession, the focal-point missing team has struggled to create enough chances in the final third, whilst becoming a tad complacent at the back.
Be it through fatigue, or opponents finally working out how to counter their style of play, the team needs to find its feet and at least avoid defeat as, with plenty of games to come, there could be yet more difficult times ahead.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Priestley Farquharson (thigh) Donervon Daniels (calf) Jack Earing (ankle), George Hall (hamstring) are all ruled out. Jamille Matt could also miss out.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Opponents Salford City are winless in their last three outings, including a midweek draw with strugglers Newport County, where Hakeeb Adelakun spared the Ammies' blushes by levelling from the spot in the second-half.
Before their recent winless run, City had been on a six-game winning run and will be confident of returning to winning ways when they make their way to the Poundland Bescot Stadium this weekend.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Salford City have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
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SALFORD |
WWWLL
| WWLLD
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Salford City have met on eleven previous occasions, and it's Salford that hold a slender head-to-head lead, having won six times compared to Walsall's five.
The first meeting took place at Banks's Stadium on Saturday, 5th October 2019, and saw the visitors ease to victory by three-goal-to-nil as Luke Armstrong, Jake Jervis, and Ibou Touray all hit the back of the net.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
Walsall have won the last three meetings, with the most recent taking place at the Ammies Peninsula Stadium on Saturday, 21st September last year and saw the Saddlers win by two-goals-to-nil.
The first goal of the game arrived in the early stages of the second-half as on-loan Stoke City forward Nathan Lowe capped off a superb multifaceted Saddlers attack to put his short-term side into the lead.
Walsall also scored the second goal of the contest as Charlie Lakin was found in space by Lowe, who had somehow controlled a Connor Barrett cross to find his colleague, who happily put the ball over the line.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that James Bell who is from South Yorkshire will take charge of the match with Ian Cooper and Paul Hodskinson being named as assistant referees. Christopher Husband has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES
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19
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
84
| 5
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PENALTIES
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3
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