The table-topping Saddlers will be back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they welcome Tranmere Rovers to the Poundland Bescot Stadium for their televised clash.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
After last weekend's meeting with Cheltenham Town was postponed due to a frozen pitch, the Saddlers should be fighting fit as they welcome Tranmere Rovers to town on Saturday afternoon.
Winning each of their last seven league games, Mat Sadler's side sit at the top of the table ahead of kick-off, and will be looking to continue their spell that has seen them build a ten-point gap over second-placed Crewe Alexandra.
Focusing on Sadler, and the former defender recently committed his future to the club by penning a new long-term deal, and hopefully ends the rumours linking him with any club that opts to sack their manager.
After several seasons battling in the lower reaches of the table, it's great to see the team finally able to compete at the top, and Sadler has played a huge part in that, more than earning his increased deal.
Returning to this weekend's match, and opponents Tranmere have won just two of their latest ten league games, including last weekend's narrow triumph over Carlisle United, as former Saddler Cameron Norman netted the only goal of the game.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Jack Earing (ankle) has been ruled out for the next ten to twelve weeks 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.
Meanwhile, Reyes Cleary has returned to parent club West Bromwich Albion after struggling for match minutes during his short time in WS1.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Tranmere Rovers have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
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TRANMERE |
WWWWW
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Tranmere Rovers have met on eighty-two previous occasions, and it's the Saddlers who hold an overall win/loss advantage, having won thirty-eight times compared to Rovers' twenty-eight.
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 took place at Prenton Park on Saturday, 24th August 2024 and saw the home side win by a goal-to-nil.
The home side that opened the scoring when they took advantage of one of several set pieces when defender Omari Patrick slipped the ball home following a passage of play in and around the Walsall area.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Jeremy Simpson who is based in Lancashire will take charge of the match with Declan O'Shea and Ryan Williams being named as assistant referees, whilst Robert Massey-Ellis has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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1
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RED
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2
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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0
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CATCH THE MATCH
The match will kick-off at 12.30pm and be broadcast live on Sky Sports+.