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Walsall will be away from home this weekend as they take on the as-yet-undefeated Milton Keynes Dons in Bedfordshire.MATCH INFORMATION
The match will take place at Milton Keynes Dons' Stadium MK on Saturday, 30th August 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 3.00pm. Team News will be confirmed at 1.45pm.
NEWS & VIEWS
Returning to winning ways with a narrow, though thoroughly deserved, win over Salford City last weekend, the Saddlers are back in action on Saturday as they visit Stadium MK and take on Paul Warne's title-chasers.
Winning three and drawing the other two of their opening five league games, the team has shown both promise and predictability, with none of their wins being by much more than narrow margins.
Following a summer of change in WS1, it's not surprising to see the team producing somewhat inconsistent performances, especially as Mat Sadler has already started to rotate his squad — something many were calling for last season.
Though frustrating to see players such as Evan Weir dropped after good performances, the gaffer's decision to rotate should pay dividends at the end of the business end of the campaign. When he should have more fresh legs at his disposal.
Of course, having more players fighting fit at the end of the season will be meaningless if the team is unable to secure enough points to be still battling towards the top when the prizes are up for grabs.
TEAM NEWS
Defenders Harry Williams and Elicha Ahui remain on the sidelines after suffering ACL injuries.
Mason Hancock is also set to miss an extended period of time after dislocating his knee during the defeat to Grimsby Town.
THE OPPOSITION
MK Dons have enjoyed a strong start to the new campaign, winning three and drawing two of their first five league games, form that sees them sitting third in the table ahead of kick-off.
FACTFILE: MILTON KEYNES DONS
Nickname: The Dons
Founded: 2004
Ground: Stadium MK
Head Coach: Paul Warne
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been twenty-nine competitive meetings between Walsall and MK Dons, and it's the Stadium MK side that holds a small head-to-head advantage having won eleven times compared to the Saddlers' eight, with the remaining ten 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 most recent meeting between the two sides took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 18th January 2025, and saw the Saddlers win 4-2.
The visitors opened the scoring with fourteen minutes on the clock when experienced striker Scott Hogan slotted home after controlling a ball over the top and evading his marker.
Walsall levelled the scores twelve minutes from the break, when David Okagbue capitalised upon a loose ball following a Taylor Allen corner.
The Saddlers went into the lead just twenty seconds into the second half when Liam Gordon netted his fourth goal of the season from an Albert Adomah flick.
Walsall added to their lead midway through the second forty-five when defender Harry Williams grabbed his third goal of the campaign with a well taken strike.
Albert Adomah made it 4-1 to the Saddlers within the final ten minutes of normal time when he received the ball from Jamie Jellis before lobbing the 'keeper who may have been expecting a stoppage after Jellis was felled in the build up.
Substitute Kane Thompson-Sommers gave the visitors some hope later in the half with a powerful effort from just outside the area. A well-taken shot.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Sam Mulhall will take charge of the match, with Ross Murphy and Stephen Finch being named as assistant referees, whilst Marvyn Amphlett has been selected as Fourth Official.
Mulhall has taken charge of two games so far this season, where he has issued a total of eleven cautions and one red card, but is yet to award a penalty.
CATCH THE MATCH
Can't make it to the game? Then Saddlers+ has you covered! Audio Match Passes are available for Saddlers fans in the UK, whilst supporters overseas can purchase video Match Passes.
Visit, this link, for further information.