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PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Having suffered their first defeat in eight league games as Stockport County eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory on Thursday evening, the Saddlers will be looking to return to winning ways as they welcome Mansfield Town to Poundland Bescot Stadium on New Year's Day.
Facing the only other team to take three points from them in some twelve league games, Saddlers boss Michael Flynn should be able to motivate his team to put away their Play-Off chasing opponents and begin the New Year on a high.
With on-loan Stags striker Danny Johnson unable to play against his parent club, the double figures-scoring striker is entering the final two weeks of his spell in WS1, there may well be an opportunity for Conor Wilkinson to earn his first start of the season as he continues his fightback from injury.
Opponents Mansfield Town have been in improving form as of late, with the Stags avoiding defeat in their last four league games, including their recent 2-1 triumph over Hartlepool United, a result which saw them keep pace with their Play-Off rivals.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Mansfield Town have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
|
MANSFIELD TOWN |
DWWWL
| LWDDW
|
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Saddlers and Stags have met on sixty-four previous occasions, and it's Walsall who hold an overall head-to-head lead, having won twenty-nine times compared to Mansfield's twenty-one.
There have also been fourteen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Fellows Park on Saturday, 11th December 1926 as the two sides faced off in a FA Cup - Second Round clash which saw the Saddlers score two goals without reply.
Their second meeting, which took place on Saturday, 26th November 1932, was also in the FA Cup and saw the Saddlers earn a place in the Second Preliminary Round thanks to a 4-1 win at Fellows Park.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the Saddlers and the Stags took place at Field Mill on Saturday, 15th October 2022, and saw the home side take all three points as goals from George Lapslie and Will Swan made Liam Bennett's leveller a mere consolation.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Charles Breakspear, who is based in Surrey, will be the man in the middle, whilst Steven Rushton and Alan Cresswell have been named assistant referees. Bhupinder Singh Gill will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
|
21
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
65
| 4
|
PENALTIES AWARDED
|
7
|
CATCH THE MATCH
If you're not planning on going to the game you can catch the match via the club's in-house service - iFollow Walsall - which takes you through the highs and lows of every Saddlers game.
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