Taking place at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, the fourth-placed Saddlers will be hoping to keep pace with the teams currently occupying the automatic promotion places as they take on the Super Whites.MATCH INFORMATION
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3.00pm on Saturday, 20th September, with Team News confirmed at 1.45pm.
NEWS & VIEWS
Undefeated in their last four league games, Walsall are among the form sides in the division, and will reach this weekend's match on the back of a one-all draw away to Fleetwood Town.
Going behind to a Ryan Graydon goal sixteen minutes into the first-half, the Saddlers went on to level the scores nine minutes later when on-loan Addick Daniel Kanu grabbed his second goal in as many games.
A welcome away point, the match gave us yet another demonstration of the Mat Sadler's happiness to allow the opposition to control much of the ball, while seeking to make the most of counter attacking opportunities.
TEAM NEWS
Walsall will be without defenders Harry Williams, Elicha Ahui, and Mason Hancock, who are still under the care of the medical team.
With the likes of Jamie Jellis and Charlie Lakin available for selection, it remains to be seen whether Sadler opts to chop and change or stick with the team that draw at Highbury Stadium.
THE OPPOSITION
Winless in their last three league games, the Rovers' most recent league outing saw them held to a draw by strugglers Newport County when Courtney Baker-Richardson struck late on to cancel out Jayden Joseph's earlier opener.
FACTFILE: TRANMERE ROVERS
Nicknames: The Rovers, Super White Army
Founded: 1884
Ground: Prenton Park
Manager: Andy Crosby
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Tranmere Rovers have met on eighty-three previous occasions, and it's the Saddlers who hold an overall win/loss advantage, having won thirty-nine times compared to Rovers' twenty-eight.
There have also been sixteen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Rovers' Prenton Park on Saturday, 10th September 1921 as the two sides met in a Division Three (North) clash in which the Saddlers won by one-goal-to-nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the Saddlers and Super Whites took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday, 11th January 2025, and saw the Saddlers win by five-goals-to-one.
Walsall opened the scoring with around fifteen minutes on the cock as Jamille Matt netted his eighth goal of the campaign with a well-placed header from a Taylor Allen cross.
The second goal of the game also went the way of the Saddlers, as Ryan Stirk opened his account for the season with an effort from just outside the Rovers area.
Tranmere made their task that bit harder late in the first-half as Sam Finley was given his marching orders after picking up two bookings.
The visitors reacted well to going a man down as they halved the Saddlers' lead just before the break, Connor Jennings the man to hit the back of the net.
Walsall restored their two goal advantage early in the second half as Matt edged closer to double figures with an effort from close range.
Jellis joined his teammates on the scoresheet as he ran the length of the Rovers half before slotting the ball home via an unfortunate combination of McGee and Norman.
Nathan Lowe added the Saddlers' sixth with a tap in from an Albert Adomah pass, the visitors caught on the break.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Edward (Ed) Duckworth will take charge of the match with Andrew Aylott and James Tewson being named as assistant referees, whilst Alex Gray has been selected as Fourth Official.
Duckworth has taken charge of eight games so far this season, and has seen fit to issue thirty cautions and one red card. He has also awarded one penalty.
The last Saddlers game officiated over by Mr. Duckworth took place at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, 27th August 2024, and saw Walsall advance to Round Three of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win over Huddersfield Town.
The match saw the referee issue three cautions and one red card as Jamie Jellis and Terriers pair Antony Evans and Josh Ruffels were booked, whilst Matthew Pearson was sent for an early bath.