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Walsall return to action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Salford City to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.MATCH INFORMATION
The match takes place in front of the Sky Sports camera's on Saturday, 23rd August, and will kick off at 12.30pm. Team news will be confirmed at 11.15am.
NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall have won two and lost two in the league so far this season, and will reach this weekend's meeting with the Ammies on the back of a disappointing midweek defeat to Grimsby Town.
Not only was the team once again unable to make the most of a host of goal-scoring opportunities — as their opposition took at least one of the opportunities presented to them — they also saw two first-steamers fall foul of injury.
Summer signings Mason Hancock and AFC Bournemouth striker Jonny Stuttle were both forced off with apparent knee injuries, adding yet more pressure onto those responsible for adding depth to the team.
With the summer Transfer Window closing in just a couple of week's time, the need to add to the team has been forced into centre stage, as anything resembling long-term issues for Hancock and Stuttle will leave two large holes in the line-up.
Head Coach Mat Sadler has often sought to quell fans' frustration with calls for patience, but, given the team has hardly hit the ground running, he may have to enter something of a panic mode in order to fill the spaces left by his wounded soldiers.
Goals continue to be hard to come by and, after seeing the likes of Taylor Allen and David Okagbue leave the club for reportedly heathy fees, it may be time for the club to dust off the cheque book and add a proven goalscorer to the ranks.
Clearly, signing a striker will be little use if the team continues to concede, but it'd go a long way to settle some of the issues that see the team snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on far too many occasions.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
The Saddlers will be without defender Mason Hancock and on-loan Bournemouth striker Jonny Stuttle as they were both forced off during the midweek defeat to Grimsby Town with knee injuries.
THE OPPOSITION
After losing to Crewe Alexandra on the opening day of the season, the Ammies have won three league games on the bounce and arrive at this weekend's match, fourth in the table, and with a triumph over Newport County to build upon.
FACTFILE: SALFORD CITY
Nickname: The Ammies
Founded: 1940
Ground: Moor Lane
Head Coach: Karl Robinson
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Salford City have met on twelve previous occasions, and it's Salford that hold a slender head-to-head lead, having won six times compared to Walsall's five. (1 draw)
The first meeting took place at Banks's Stadium on Saturday, 5th October 2019, and saw the visitors ease to victory by three-goal-to-nil as Luke Armstrong, Jake Jervis, and Ibou Touray all hit the back of the net.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 1st February 2025, and saw the spoils shared as the game ended in a two-all draw.
The first goal of the contest arrived with just four minutes on the clock, when Cole Stockton finished off a fine attacking move to put the visiting Ammies into the lead.
Salford scored their second of the contest in the second forty-five, as Hakeeb Adelakun added to an earlier assist with a goal of his own.
Walsall got themselves back into the game a couple of minutes later, as second-half substitutes Evan Weir and Danny Johnson combined for the latter to see an effort hit the post and go over the line.
The Saddlers levelled the scores with three minutes of normal time remaining when a loose ball defected off DJ and, following a scramble, went into the back of the City net.
MATCH OFFICIALS
James Oldham will take charge of the match, with Mark Cunliffe and Daniel Smith being named as assistant referees. Matthew Mcquillan has been selected as Fourth Official.
Oldham, who is based in Derbyshire, has taken charge of jut one game so far this season, where he issued three yellow cards.
CATCH THE MATCH
The match will be broadcast live in audio form in the UK via the club's in-house service Saddlers+. Click here for further information.