Match Preview: v Fleetwood Town (A) Match Preview: v Fleetwood Town (A)

Match Preview: v Fleetwood Town (A)

Here we look ahead to the Saddlers' League Two meeting with the Fishermen.
Bescot Banter - Walsall FC NewsWalsall will be hoping to secure three more points as they hope to improve upon last season's Play-Off Final disappointment.

MATCH INFORMATION

Walsall make their way north on Saturday afternoon as they take on Fleetwood Town in what will be both sides' eighth outing of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League Two campaign.

Taking place at the Highbury Stadium, the match is due to kick-off at 3.00pm, with team news expected at 1.45pm.

NEWS & VIEWS

Walsall are enjoying a rich vein of form. Winning their last four games in all-competitions, the Saddlers continue to enter strong if unspectacular performances as the campaign continues.

Securing three one-nil wins n the bounce, Mat Sadler's side sit third in the table ahead of kick-off, putting them amongst the in-form sides, with plenty of potential yet to be explored.

Promising individual displays, coupled with a clearly well versed tactical vision, the team is drying the odds, as ongoing injury issues and an overall lack of firepower don't seem to be having the impact many fans feared.

TEAM NEWS

Walsall will be without midfielder Charlie Lakin, who is serving a one-match ban after receiving his marching orders during the win over Chesterfield.

On the injury front, Harry Williams (Achilles) and Mason Hancock (knee) are ruled out, whilst Priestley Farquharson and Jamie Jellis (both groin) will face late fitness tests.

THE OPPOSITION

Fleetwood will reach this weekend's match on the back of a narrow, though frustrating defeat to Notts County, as they failed to take advantage of a handful of goal-scoring opportunities on the way to a 1-0 reverse.

Matthew Dennis netted the only goal of the game less than twenty seconds into the second-half, leaving the Fishermen with nothing to show for their trip to Meadow Lane.

FACTFILE: FLEETWOOD TOWN
Nickname: The Fishermen
Founded: 1997
Ground: Highbury Stadium
Head Coach: Pete Wild

FORM GUIDE

Walsall have won three of their last four league games, and are among the form sides in League Two so far this season.

Going undefeated in their opening three league games, Fleetwood have won just one of their last five. 

HEAD-TO-HEAD

There have been just fifteen competitive meetings between the two sides, and it's Walsall that hold an overall head-to-head advantage as they've won eight times compared to Fleetwood's five.

The first meeting was an FA Cup — First Round clash that took place at the Highbury Stadium on Saturday, 6th November 2010. The teams went to a replay as Matt Richards' 4th-minute opener was cancelled out by Jamie Mullan in the second half.

Walsall went on to win the replay, played at the Banks's Stadium ten days later, as Reuben Reid bagged an unanswered brace to book his team's place in the Second Round.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

The most recent meeting took place at the Fishermen's Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, 28th January 2025 and saw Fleetwood take all three points.

The home side took the lead with twelve minutes of the first-half on the clock, when Shaun Rooney put the ball past Tommy Simkin with the first on-target effort of the evening.

Fleetwood doubled their advantage five minutes later as James Bolton was able to rifle the ball home as Walsall struggled to lay a glove upon their opponents for much of the contest.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The EFL has confirmed that Neil Hair who is based in Cambridgeshire will take charge of the match with Kevin Mulraine and Paul Newhouse being named as assistant referees, whilst Richard Holmes has been selected as Fourth Official.

Hair has taken charge of six games so far this season and has issued 18 cautions and one red card. He has also awarded three penalties.

CATCH THE MATCH

Saddlers+ offers audio coverage for UK-based Saddlers, whilst those who have flown the nest can purchase a Video Match Pass. Click here for further information.
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