Match Preview: v Doncaster Rovers (H) Match Preview: v Doncaster Rovers (H)

Match Preview: v Doncaster Rovers (H)

Here we look ahead to the Saddlers' Carabao Cup - Round One clash with Doncaster Rovers.
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 look to embark on their first cup run of the new campaign.

Pre-Match News & Views

Walsall opened their 2021/22 League Two campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers at the weekend, as Callum McManaman netted the only goal of the game to deny Matthew Taylor a win on his debut as Head Coach.
 
Despite the defeat, the Saddlers have plenty of positives to build upon heading into Tuesday evening's cup outing, with on-loan Leicester City winger Tyrese Shade entering a particularly promising performance.
 
With the vast majority of the team making their club debuts, it is important to remain patient as the squad gets to know each other over the opening few weeks of the season.

The most important thing to come out of the game is a clear need to make more of each and any goal-scoring opportunity which may come by, as the Reds were a little flaccid in attack, something Taylor admitted was something he will work on as he prepares for more match action.

Opponents Doncaster also suffered defeat in their opening game as AFC Wimbledon earned all three points with a 2-1 victory at the Keepmoat. Charlie Seaman had put Rovers into the lead with less than a minute of the second-half gone, but goals from Ayoub Assal (57') and Luke McCormick (74') secured the win for the Dons.

The Saddlers could make a few changes for Tuesday's match as Taylor considers his options ahead of next weekend's home clash with Forest Green Rovers, which will see a bumper crowd in attendance as the club has sold over 2,600 season tickets so far.

Head to Head

Donny and the Saddlers have met on sixty-four previous occasions, and it's the Saddlers who enjoy a comfortable Head-to-Head lead, having won on thirty-two occasions compared to Rovers' twenty-three.

There have also been nine draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Doncaster's Belle Vue ground on Saturday, 19th January 1924 and saw the teams meet in a Division Three (North) clash which Rovers won by three-goals-to-nil.

The most recent meeting was a Sky Bet League One clash which took place at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, 30th March 2019, and saw Rovers win 3-1, as goals from John Marquis (3' - pen), Mallik Wilks (4'), and Danny Andrew (39') were enough to make Josh Gordon's fourteenth-minute strike a mere consolation.

Man in the Middle

The EFL has confirmed that John Busby, who is based in Oxfordshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Matthew Jones and Steven Meredith have been named assistant referees. Daniel Leach will act as Fourth Official.
 
Catch the Match

You can catch the match via the club's in-house service - iFollow Walsall - which takes you through the highs and lows of each and every Saddlers match.

Not an iFollow Walsall subscriber? There are a range of options available, including monthly, annual, and gift subscriptions. You can purchase a subscription, or find further information on the service, by clicking HERE.
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