Match Preview: v Tranmere Rovers (A) Match Preview: v Tranmere Rovers (A)
Posted by: Bescot Banter

Match Preview: v Tranmere Rovers (A)

Here we take a look ahead to the Saddlers' League Two meeting with Tranmere Rovers.
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 make their way to Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon.

PRE-MATCH VIEWS

After going winless in four games, Walsall returned to winning ways on Easter Monday as goals from Jamille Matt and Mo Fall saw them scrape by Salford City at an electric Poundland Bescot Stadium.

Fuelled by Easter chocolate and an impending sense of doom, the Saddlers once again showed their ability to fight until the bitter end as they got their admittedly faint hopes of securing a place in the Play-Offs alive.

Despite a recent run that saw them move from the lower reaches of the table to near the top, a spell of two draws and two defeats saw the faithful struggle to see how their team could get back on track.

A lack of firepower and a disappointing ability to allow the opposition back into games, the Saddlers had begun to slip away from contention and, with other teams beginning to find form, were close to falling back into the bottom half.

However, after being on the receiving end of a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Milton Keynes Dons on Good Friday, the Saddlers were able to thwart their visitors and grab a late winner with Mo Faal pouncing in stoppage time to break Ammies hearts.

Whilst the result doesn't wipe away the recent slump, it does offer plenty of encouragement as we enter the final six games of the season.

WALSALL TEAM NEWS

The Saddlers were dealt a blow during the victory over Salford City as Jamille Matt was subbed off at half-time, though we're yet to hear what led to the change.

Meanwhile, Harry Williams, Jamie Jellis, Jack Earing, Aramide Oteh, and Tom Knowles continue to miss out through injury.

OPPOSITION NEWS

Tranmere are in the midst of a slump of their own as they're winless in their last three with their most recent outing seeing them draw 1-1 with relegation-battling Colchester United.

Sitting just thirteen points above the drop zone, Rovers can ill afford a lengthy run of poor results, especially as several of the sides below them have games in hand, leading to what will be several nervy matchdays as we close in on the business end of the season.

FORM IN FIVE

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

TRANMERE
WALSALL
WWLLD
LDDLW

HEAD-TO-HEAD

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

There have also been sixteen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Rovers' 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

Walsall and Tranmere most recently met in a League Two clash that took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 16th December 2023 and saw the Saddlers take all three points.

The only goal of the game arrived with around twenty minutes of the second half played as Jamille Matt, who had replaced Isaac Hutchinson at half-time, popped the ball home after Donervon Daniels had found him with a superb pass.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The EFL has confirmed that Sebastian Stockbridge who is based in Tyne & Wear, will be the man in the middle, whilst Steven Rushton and Richard Morris have been named assistant referees. Thomas Harty will act as Fourth Official.

GAMES
OFFICIATED
25
YELLOW
CARDS
RED
CARDS
125
1
PENALTIES
AWARDED
14

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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