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 welcome the Sulphurites to Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Fresh on the back of last weekend's Emirates FA Cup - First Round victory over Sheppey United, a result that saw the Saddlers avoid a potential headline-grabbing defeat, attention returns to League Two and a meeting with Harrogate Town.
It's fair to say the Saddlers have been in poor form over recent weeks, with their aforementioned win over Sheppey seeing the Reds secure just their second win in eight all-competition outings.
With points proving to be something of a premium it's games like this that the Saddlers can ill afford to lose.
Taking on a team that has also been in somewhat indifferent form, Walsall simply have to take the game to their opponents and at least take a step on the road to a winning run of games.
With several points already left on the table, were in dire need of not only a win but a complete performance. An expected, and happily comfortable, win over non-league Sheppey is one thing, but the league is all that really matters and, quite simply, the team has failed to make the slightest dent upon it so far this season.
With another busy spell of games ahead, it's time for the squad to stand up and be counted as we're not too far from the January Transfer Window and a potential mini rebuild.
OPPOSITION NEWS
19th-placed Harrogate Town also enjoyed a comfortable outing in the FA Cup at the weekend as they defeated Marine 5-1 on Merseyside.
Losing four of their last six league games, Weaver's side will be hoping to avoid another defeat as they make their way to WS1 this weekend.
TEAM NEWS
The Saddlers have Jack Earing back in training, whilst Priestley Farquharson, Harry Williams, David Okagbue, Aramide Oteh, and Freddie Draper are all still absent.
Long-term absentee Stephen Dooley is unavailable for Simon Weaver's Harrogate Town.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Harrogate Town have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
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HARROGATE |
LWDDL
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been only six competitive meetings between Walsall and Harrogate Town, and it's the Sulphurites that hold a narrow advantage having won twice compared to the Saddlers' single victory.
The other three games ended in draws as there has been little to separate the two teams over the last few campaigns.
The first meeting was played behind closed doors at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, 19th September 2020 - Harrogate were in the middle of replacing their synthetic pitch to bring them in line with EFL regulations.
The match was an eventful, high-scoring affair as, despite taking an early lead, the Saddlers left it late to take a share of the spoils as Josh Gordon levelled nine minutes from full-time.
Walsall had led via Rory Holden's fourth-minute goal but were soon pegged back before falling behind as Aaron Martin and Jack Muldoon scored for the home side ahead of Gordon's leveller.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the Saddlers and Sulphurites was a League Two clash that took place at the Envirovent Stadium on Tuesday, 18th April, and saw the home side ease to victory by three-goals-to-nil.
The first goal of the game arrived with just ten-minutes on the clock and went the way of the home side as Sam Folarin smashed the ball home after getting on the end of Alex Pattison's deflected effort.
Harrogate doubled their lead midway through the second half as Kazeem Olaigbe sent the ball into the top corner after taking advantage of a loose ball in the Walsall half.
The Sulphurites' third arrived ten minutes after their second as Alex Pattison added to his earlier assist by getting on the end of Daly's pass to slip the ball past Owen Evans and into the back of the net.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Matt Corlett who is based on Merseyside, will be the man in the middle, whilst Steven Plane and Declan O'Shea have been named assistant referees. Jack Clench will act as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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10
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
41
| 3
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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4
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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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