Remember 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 play host to Wrexham on Friday evening.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall returned to winning ways on Boxing Day as goals from Freddie Draper and Oisin McEntee saw them earn a welcome three points against a side currently battling it out in the Play-Off places.
After going into the game on the back of a disappointing defeat to Accrington Stanley, the Saddlers faithful will have been forgiven for expecting the worst as their team played host to the Railwaymen, especially as the team has a tendency to follow one bad result up with another.
But that wasn't the case at all, as they not only secured the win but with it a clean sheet as several of the squad entered one of their better performances, leading to a convincing and very welcome return to winning ways.
Of course, Friday evening's meeting with second-placed Wrexham is a whole new kettle of fish, with the North Wales outfit currently enjoying another streak of positive results - their most recent league defeat coming in mid-November - and they'll be looking to extend their run at WS1.
Arriving at the match on the back of a narrow victory over Swindon Town - James McClean's first-half goal proving to be enough to separate the sides - the Red Dragons have an opportunity to make it six league games without defeat.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Oisin McEntee joined the list of walking wounded on Boxing Day as the defender hobbled off with what was ruled to be a hamstring injury which will likely see him miss Friday's match.
The likes of Joe Riley, David Okagbue, Aramide Oteh, and Ross Tierney also remain on the sidelines with varying levels of injury.
FORM IN FIVE
Here is how the Saddlers and their opponents Wrexham have fared in their last five Sky Bet League Two games.
WALSALL
|
WREXHAM |
LWWLW
| WDWWW
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been sixty-seven competitive meetings between Walsall and Wrexham, and it's the Red Dragons who hold a Head-to-Head lead having won twenty-nine times compared to the Saddlers' twenty-two, with the other sixteen games drawn.
The first meeting was a Division Three - North clash that took place at Fellows Park on Tuesday, 27th December 1921 and saw the spoils shared as the sides played out a two-all draw, a result which adds to the total of sixteen draws over the history of the fixture.
With records being somewhat difficult to find, we believe the Saddlers scored via Teddy Groves and Harry Beck, the latter of whom would also go on to play for Wrexham some years later.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at STōK Racecourse on Tuesday, 15th August and saw the home side secure the win and with it three crucial points.
The first goal of the game went the way of the home side as Will Boyle sent a header past Owen Evans, who had already been called into action several times before the Red Dragons eventually took the lead.
Wrexham went on to double their lead after twenty minutes of the first-half as Ollie Palmer got the better of Evans from distance, with the Saddlers struggling to make an impact upon proceedings.
However, just a few minutes later, the Saddlers were able to cut Wrexham's lead and possibly begin to impose themselves as Chris Hussey grabbed his first goal of the season, with Freddie Draper grabbing his second assist in as many games.
The home side's third goal of the game arrived with just over ten minutes of the season-half played as Jake Bickerstaff was allowed to turn before slamming the ball beyond Owen Evans and into the back of the net.
The home side's fourth and final goal came with five minutes of normal time remaining as Elliot Lee slotted home, the scoreline being something of a wakeup call for the Saddlers.
Walsall got a goal back in second-half stoppage time with Aramide Oteh claiming a goal that appeared to go in off former Saddler Anthony Forde, though the die had already been cast as the Saddlers slipped to defeat.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Paul Howard who is based in London, will be the man in the middle, whilst Jake Topp and Ryan Williams have been named assistant referees. Danny Jarvis will act as the Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED
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19
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YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
76
| 2
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PENALTIES AWARDED
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0
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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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