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 Walsall welcome Milton Keynes Dons to WS1.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
After suffering defeats to Swindon Town and AFC Wimbledon, the Saddlers returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a surprisingly comfortable triumph over Mark Hughes' much-fancied Bradford City.
Goals from Liam Gordon, Aramide Oteh, and Freddie Draper cancelled out Andy Cook's opener to take the Saddlers closer to the top-half of the table, and to within just a few more favourable results of the Play-Off places.
After completing ten league games, the Saddlers are yet to really tie down a consistently successful formation, with recent injuries forcing Head Coach Mat Sadler to play with something akin to a back four, and, given the result, should be something he persists with in midweek.
With too many games already allowed to fall by the wayside, we're a little frustrated that the gaffer has become stubborn in his selections and, despite insisting players will be in the team on merit ahead of the season, some of the current crop seem to be undroppable, even after a string of poor displays.
Hopefully, the manager will begin to realise that, with a minor switch in formations, he has plenty of players more than capable of producing a performance that may well lead to three more points, something made clear by the performance of Harry Williams against the Bantams with the young prospect among a handful of players to enter their best performance of the season so far.
OPPOSITION NEWS
Opponents Milton Keynes Dons have been in indifferent form as of late with the Dons winning none of their last five league games including a narrow defeat to Harrogate Town with Warren O'Hora's 41st-minute own goal doing the damage.
Tuesday evening's meeting will see some familiar faces making a return to WS1 as MK Dons boast former Saddlers Craig MacGillivray and Cameron Norman amongst their ranks among their ranks.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Milton Keynes Dons have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
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MK DONS |
WWLLW
| LDLDL
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been twenty-five competitive meetings between Walsall and MK Dons, and it's the Stadium MK side that hold a small head-to-head advantage having won nine times compared to the Saddlers' seven, with the nine remaining games finishing all-square.
The first meeting between the two was a League 1 clash that took place at the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday, 30th October 2004, and saw the spoils shared as Darren Wrack's thirteenth-minute opener was cancelled out by Malvin Kamara thirteen minutes later.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The last meeting was a Papa John’s Trophy Southern Group C clash that took place at the Bescot on Tuesday, 18th October 2022, and saw the visitors secure the points with goals from Henry Lawrence (62') and Nathan Holland (90') proving to be more than enough to secure the points.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Christopher Pollard who is based in Suffolk, will be the man in the middle, whilst Jack Clench and Andrew Aylott have been named assistant referees. Oliver Bickle will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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4
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
24
| 0
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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1
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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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