On Saturday afternoon Walsall Football Club will play host to near-rivals Port Vale in the latest Sky Bet League 1 fixture of the season. The latest match preview is below.
Dean Smith's Walsall side arrive at the game on the back of a midweek victory over Rochdale, the Saddlers holding off a second half surge to secure all three points. by three goal to two.
Smith has a few injury concerns heading towards kick off; top-scorer Tom Bradshaw hamstring) has missed the last few games but is not ruled out f this fixture.
Anthony Forde and Jordan Cook (both groin) could be fit to play but will both face fitness tests ahead of kick off.
Left sided defender James Chambers (cramp) is expected to be fit enough to return.
Smith has a few injury concerns heading towards kick off; top-scorer Tom Bradshaw hamstring) has missed the last few games but is not ruled out f this fixture.
Anthony Forde and Jordan Cook (both groin) could be fit to play but will both face fitness tests ahead of kick off.
Left sided defender James Chambers (cramp) is expected to be fit enough to return.
THE OPPOSITION...
Rob Page's sixteenth placed Port Vale arrive at the game on the back of a 3-1 midweek defeat away to Bristol City.
Bale have won just one of their last five league games, losing three and drawing one.
The Valiants should have joint top scorer Ben Williamson fit to return. Whilst winger Byron Moore may also start after an impressive substitute appearance in Tuesday's defeat at Bristol City.
Crystal Palace teenager Ryan Inniss, who joined on loan on Thursday, is expected to be involved, while former Walsall loanee Ryan McGivern could be recalled and Adam Yates is also an option as Page contemplates defensive changes.
Bale have won just one of their last five league games, losing three and drawing one.
The Valiants should have joint top scorer Ben Williamson fit to return. Whilst winger Byron Moore may also start after an impressive substitute appearance in Tuesday's defeat at Bristol City.
Crystal Palace teenager Ryan Inniss, who joined on loan on Thursday, is expected to be involved, while former Walsall loanee Ryan McGivern could be recalled and Adam Yates is also an option as Page contemplates defensive changes.
HEAD TO HEAD...
In terms of head-to-head, of the eighty-five meetings, it's Walsall that lead the way with thirty-eight wins to the Valiants' twenty-one.
There have also been twenty-six draws during the fixtures history, which began on Saturday, 31st December 1892, the match, which was in the old Division Two, ended 3-0 to Port Vale.
In more recent times, their last meeting, which took place on the opening day of the season, and ended as a 1-1 draw. Summer signing Tom Bradshaw making his debut with a goal, to cancel out Tom Pope's 25th minute opener.
Former Walsall loanee Ryan McGivern joined Saddlers Captain Adam Chambers in referee Darren Bond's book in a match that saw twenty-one free kicks given.
Despite having a sizeable head-to-head lead Walsall have won just one of the last five meetings in all competitions, and have drawn three and lost two of the previous five league meetings, a run that began in the 2007/08 season.
OFFICIALS...
The referee for this weekend's match is scheduled to be Mr. Andy D'Urso, who is based in Essex.
51-year-old D'urso is amongst the most experienced officials in the Football League having debuted in 1994.
This season, Mr. D'Urso has taken charge of twenty-three games in various competitions, and has issued sixty-six yellow, and four red cards, he has also awarded just one penalty so far this campaign.
The most recent Walsall game officiated over by Mr. D'Urso was 2011/12's League 1 visit to Stadium:MK, where the Saddlers defeated Milton Keynes Dons by one-goal-to-nil, an 18th minute Will Grigg strike enough to secure all three points for the Reds.
Dons' Stephen Gleeson picked up the only booking of the game in an otherwise tame affair.
The most recent Walsall game officiated over by Mr. D'Urso was 2011/12's League 1 visit to Stadium:MK, where the Saddlers defeated Milton Keynes Dons by one-goal-to-nil, an 18th minute Will Grigg strike enough to secure all three points for the Reds.
Dons' Stephen Gleeson picked up the only booking of the game in an otherwise tame affair.
Mr. Declan Ford and Mr. Geoffrey Law are due to assist the referee, whilst Mr. Paul Thomps will be Fourth Official.