The Saddlers' focus shifts to cup competition on Tuesday evening as they take on nearby opposition in Round One of the Carabao Cup.MATCH INFORMATION
Taking place at the Potters' bet365 Stadium, the match is due to kick-off at 7.45pm on Tuesday, 12th August 2025.
Team news will be confirmed 75 minutes before kick-off.
NEWS & VIEWS
After opening the season with a hard-fought victory over Swindon Town, the Saddlers entered a far-from satisfactory display against Gillingham on Saturday afternoon, as they slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Failing to create much in the final third, they'll have their work cut out if they are to avoid a second defeat in as many games as they make the trip to Staffordshire on Tuesday evening.
While it's important to view each early-season result in isolation, the performance was a world away from the one entered against the Robins and, as there was only one change in personnel as the suspended Brandon Comley was replaced by Lewis Warrington.
As the games come thick and fast, we hope the team will be able to use their disappointment as fuel and cause what would be an upset against much-fancied opposition.
TEAM NEWS
Walsall have no new injury concerns. Summer signing Harrison Burke could feature after overcoming a recent ankle injury.
THE OPPOSITION
Opponents Stoke City scored twice in second-half stoppage time to open their 2025/26 Championship campaign with a win over Derby County.
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, the Potters went on to take break Rams' hearts as Divin Mubama and Sorba Thomas secured three welcome points.
Falling behind to a Carlton Morris goal with an hour on the click, Stoke levelled the scores ten minutes later as Lewis Baker struck home from just outside the area.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been just twenty-six competitive meetings between the Saddlers and Stoke City, with the Potters that hold the head-to-head advantage, winning thirteen times compared to Walsall's eight.
There have also been five draws over the history of the contest, a history that began at Fellows Park on Saturday, 4th September 1926, as the teams met in a Division Three (North) clash that Stoke won by a goal-to-nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent competitive meeting, also in the League Cup, took place at the Potters' Britannia Stadium on Wednesday, 28th August 2013, and saw the home side win 3-1.
The home side went on to re-establish their two goal lead six minutes before full-time as Jones completed his hat-trick, knocking the Saddlers out at the Second Round stage.
Stoke took a two-goal lead into the second-half after Kenwyne Jones grabbed a brace, but their lead was halved in the second-half as Ashley Hemmings netted thirteen minutes into the second forty-five.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that James Bell who is based in Yorkshire will take charge of the match with Alistair Nelson and George Byrne being named as assistant referees, whilst Michael Barlow has been selected as Fourth Official.
Bell has taken charge of one game so far this season and saw fit to issue four cautions and one penalty as Southampton rebound from going a goal down to defeat Wrexham 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.