Walsall will be looking to use their recent momentum into a cup competition as they take on Shrewsbury Town at the Croud Meadow.NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall will return to action on Tuesday evening as they make the short trip west and to Shrewsbury, as they enter their second cup competition of the ongoing campaign.
With a welcome win over the previously undefeated Milton Keynes Dons to build upon, Head Coach mat Sadler is likely to make a few changes as he both looks to keep his squad fresh and take a look at some of the options at his disposal.
With the likes of Harry Williams, Elicha Ahui, and Mason Hancock already facing lengthy spells on the sidelines, the Saddlers saw both Evan Weir and Jamie Jellis forced off during the win over MK Dons, and will be hoping to go through the game without any more issues.
THE OPPOSITION
After being relegated from League One last season, the Shrews have endured a difficult start to life in the fourth tier.
Sitting 23rd in the table, the Shropshire side are yet to win in six league games, having drawn two and lost four of their six games so far.
Looking at the EFL Trophy, and it's a little brighter for the Croud Meadow outfit as they opened their campaign with a comfortable 3-1 win over Chelsea U21s last week.
FACTFILE: SHREWSBURY TOWN
Nickname: The Shrews
Founded: 1886
Ground: Croud Meadow
Manager: Michael Appleton
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been ninety-nine previous competitive meetings between Walsall and Shrewsbury Town, and it's the Saddlers that enjoy an overall statistical lead having won on forty-four occasions compared to the Shrews' twenty-six.
There have been twenty-nine draws over the history of the fixture, a history that began at Gay Meadow on Saturday, 17th November 1945 as the two sides met in an FA Cup, First Round clash that the Shrews won by five goals to nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting, also an EFL Trophy clash, took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, 12th November 2024, and saw the Saddlers ease to victory by three-goals-to-nil.
Walsall grabbed the opening goal of the game early in the second half as Reyes Cleary snook in at the back post to slam the ball over the line.
George Hall doubled the Saddlers' lead a few minutes after the sixty-minute mark as he popped the ball over the onrushing 'keeper and into the back of the net.
Second-half substitute Nathan Lowe came off the bench to head home the Saddlers' third. The on-loan Stoke City man making it ten goals in all competitions.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Declan Bourne who is based in Nottinghamshire will take charge of the match with Matthew Jones and Steven Plane being named as assistant referees, whilst Keiran Forrest has been selected as Fourth Official.
Including one fixture in Premier League 2, Bourne has taken charge of just three games so far this season, where he has issued a total of thirteen cautions, two red cards and two penalties.
TICKET INFORMATION
Walsall have received an initial allocation of 529 tickets.
Adult: £5
Over 65s: £1
19-23s £1
Under 18s: £1
Under 7s: £1
CATCH THE MATCH
Tuesday's match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and Saddlers+.