Walsall will be back in Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they welcome Bristol Rovers to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.NEWS & VIEWS
After winning five and drawing one of their last six league games, the table-topping Saddlers welcome Darrell Clarke and his Bristol Rovers side to town, with Walsall looking to continue their fine run of form.
Recent wins over Tranmere Rovers and Accrington Stanley have seen the Saddlers score seven goals, as many as the previous seven games combined, as the squad begins to show just what it's capable of.
TEAM NEWS
Walsall will be without the services of defenders Mason Hancock, Harry Williams, and Elicha Ahui, who all remain sidelined with long-term injuries.
THE OPPOSITION
After losing their opening three league games, Darrell Clarke's Rovers haven't lost in seven league games as they look to return to League One at the first time of asking.
Their most recent outing saw them squeeze past fellow promotion hopefuls Salford City by two-goals-to-one at the Memorial Stadium — Fabrizio Cavegn scoring for a third time in as many games to secure the points.
FACTFILE: BRISTOL ROVERS
Nickname: The Pirates
Founded: 1883
Ground: Memorial Stadium
Head Coach: Darrell Clarke
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been one-hundred and six competitive meetings between Walsall and Bristol Rovers, and it's the Pirates who hold a head-to-head advantage, having tasted victory on forty-four occasions, compared to the Saddlers' thirty-nine
There have been twenty-three draws over the history of the fixture. A history which began at the Eastville Stadium on Saturday, 27th August 1927 as Rovers and Walsall met in a high-scoring Division Three (South) clash, the home side winning 5-2.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent competitive meeting took place at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, 29th January 2022, and saw the Pirates win by a goal-to-nil.
The match was a close run affair, with efforts on goal being something of a premium. But, despite enjoying a man advantage after Luca Hoole saw red in the first half, the Saddlers ultimately suffered a fifth defeat on the bounce as Aaron Collins netted the only goal of the game in the ninetieth minute.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL confirmed that Stephen Martin, who is based in Staffordshire, will take charge of the match, with Joe Simpson and Wayne Grunnill being named as assistants. Jonathan Maskrey has been selected as Fourth Official.
Martin has taken charge of five games so far this season, and has issued some twenty-eight cautions and awarded two penalties. He is yet to send a player for an early bath.
The most recent Walsall game officiated over by Martin was the clash with Barrow that took place at the SO Legal Stadium on Saturday, 12th April 2025, and saw the home side win 2-0.
He booked three players, including then-Walsall defender Liam Gordon. Barrow's goals were scored by Emile Acquah and current Saddlers striker Aaron Pressley.