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

Match Preview: v Tranmere Rovers (H)

Here we take a look ahead to this weekend's meeting between the Saddlers and Super Whites.
Walsall are back in action this weekend as they welcome Tranmere Rovers to town for their latest outing of a so-far, disappointing League Two campaign.

PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS

Despite their recent woes, the Saddlers will reach this weekend's match on the back of two welcome wins as they finally produced a couple of positive displays.

First came Saturday's encouraging victory over title-chasing Notts County, and a match that saw Oisin McEntee bag his fourth and fifth goals of the season as the Saddlers mounted a superb comeback to take all three points.

Then came a midweek meeting with National League North outfit Alfreton Town, as the two sides battled it out for a place alongside Southampton in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Though the match was far from a classic, it did both produce a win and a clean sheet as Jamille Matt opened his account for the season with his early effort proving to be enough to see the Saddlers sneak into the next round.

Whilst the results are a mere drop in the prverbial bucket of poor form, it's refershing to see the team come together and attle for a win. Long may it continue.

WALSALL TEAM NEWS

The Saddlers have been dealt yet another injury blow as on-loan Motherwell man Ross Tierney has been ruled out for several weeks with another hamstring injury.

Aramide Oteh continues to work his way towards a return, tough he may well miss the rest of the season follwing recent surgery.

OPPOSITION NEWS

Despite sitting just two place above the League Two relegation zone, Tranmere have gone five league games without defeat, and will arrive at the match on the back of a comeback win over Newport County, with former Saddler Kieron Morris levelling the scores before Connor Jennings bagged the winner.

With there being so few points between many of the teams in the bottom half of the table, a win for either side could greatly impact their place in the league, and, with points being something of a preium for both sides, they can ill-afford a defeat.

FORM IN FIVE

Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Tranmere Rovers have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.

WALSALL
TRANMERE ROVERS
LLDLW
WDWDW

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Walsall and Tranmere Rovers have met on seventy-nine previous occasions and it's the Saddlers who hold an overall win/loss advantage having won thirty-six times compared to Rovers' twenty-seven.

There have also been sixteen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Prenton Park on Saturday, 10th September 1921 as the two sides met in a Division Three (North) clash in which the Saddlers won by one-goal-to-nil.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

The most recent meeting was a Leageue Two clash that took place at Prenton Park on Saturday, 14th January 2023 and saw the spoils shared as Josh Hawkes' leveller cancelled out Danny Johnson's earlier opener.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The EFL has confirmed that Alan Young who is based in Cambridgeshire, will be the man in the middle, whilst Declan O'Shea and Simon Shaw have been named assistant referees. Daniel Flynn will act as Fourth Official.

GAMES
OFFICIATED
12
YELLOW
CARDS
RED
CARDS
69
4
PENALTIES
AWARDED
6

CHRISTMAS TOY APPEAL

The annual Christmas Toy Appeal will take place at our home fixture against Tranmere Rovers at Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday.

Organised by the Walsall Football Supporters' Trust, fans are encouraged to donate unwrapped new toys which will then be delivered to Walsall Manor Hospital.

For anyone looking to make a toy donation, head over to the Savoy Lounge entrance on the day of the game where the Trust will be taking donations at a table.

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.

Not an iFollow Walsall subscriber? There are a range of options available, including monthly, annual, and gift subscriptions. For further information on the service, or to set up your subscription, click HERE.
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