Walsall opened 2026 with a trip to the Abbey Stadium as they took on Cambridge United in Sky Bet League Two.Following a minute of applause to remember those who have passed away during the past twelve months, Walsall got the match underway, and the side began brightly, with Jamie Jellis breaking just two minutes in, before playing the ball over the top for Daniel Kanu, whose strike goal-wards sailed wide of the target.
Things settled after that, with both sides enjoying spells on the ball, whilst creating little, with much of the action contained within the midfield area.
Walsall created a promising attack, twelve minutes in, as Evan Weir raced forwards with the ball, combining well with Jid Okeke, before curling a dangerous cross into the box, but none of his teammates were able to get a telling touch and the move fizzled out.
Cambridge created their first real chance of note, in the eighteenth minute, as James Brophy picked up the ball and pulled it back for Sullay Kaikai, who was unable to make a clean connection, allowing the Saddlers defence to clear.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the twenty-third minute, allowing Jamille Matt to receive some attention from the Walsall medics, fortunately, for the Saddlers, he was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
Play continued for a while, with little action of note, but nine minutes after going down initially, it became apparent that Jamille Matt would be unable to continue, and Aaron Pressley was brought on in his place.
Walsall won a free-kick, in the thirty-fourth minute, which was played forwards by Weir, for Aden Flint, who played the ball into the box for Ryan Finnigan, but the midfielder was unable to make a solid connection, and his effort was cleared.
The Saddlers won a corner in the forty-first minute, as Liam Bennett denied Kanu a chance to get a clean shot away.
Nothing would come of the flag-kick, however, as the ball was turned behind for a second time, by Mamadou Jobe, with the danger then being cleared.
Four additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time, Cambridge opened the scoring, as the hosts capitalised on a Rico Browne mistake, which allowed Brophy to cross the ball into the box for Ben Knight, who fired home from close range.
The hosts continued to press, winning a corner in the final minute of the half, but that came to nothing, as Jobe's close range headed effort found the post. A big let off for the Saddlers, who then headed off the pitch trailing by one-goal-to-nil.
The teams returned unchanged after the break, and Cambridge got the action back underway. After a relatively quiet opening eight minutes to the half, the hosts doubled their advantage, as Louis Appéré chipped the ball over Flint, allowing Knight to latch onto it and fire home from outside the box.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-sixth minute, allowing Jellis to receive attention from the medics after being caught in the face. Play soon resumed, with the midfielder able to rejoin the action.
The hosts almost put the game to bed in the fifty-ninth minute, as Dominic Ball played the ball in for Knight, whose overhead kick kissed the bottom of the crossbar and somehow stayed out.
At the other end, the Saddlers could have pulled a goal back on the hour mark, as Kanu crossed to Charlie Lakin, but his effort from outside the area was blocked by Bennett, with Lakin then firing wide from the resulting corner.
United opted to make their first changes of the afternoon, in the sixty-fifth minute, with Dominic Ball and Shane McLoughlin making way, as George Hoddle and Pelly Mpanzu took their places.
The Saddlers chose to make a double change of their own, four minutes later, with Jamie Jellis and Connor Barrett departing, as Courtney Clarke and Albert Adomah joined the fray.
Walsall felt they should have been awarded a penalty, twenty minutes from time, as Kanu was felled inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals, and waved play on.
With seventy-three minutes on the clock, the hosts chose to make a further two changes to their line-up, with James Brophy and Louis Appéré being replaced by Ben Purrington and Shayne Lavery.
Walsall attempted to pull a goal back, three minutes after the changes, with Finnigan crossing the ball into the box for Kanu, but Cambridge 'keeper, Jake Eastwood was able to make the save to deny him.
The home side could have added to their tally at the other end, in the eighty-first minute, as Kaikkai beat Lakin and crossed the ball into the path of Lavery, but he was unable to find the target with his effort, sending the ball sailing wide of the target from a tight angle.
Cambridge chose to withdraw goalscorer, Ben Knight, in the eighty-second minute, with Elias Kachunga taking his place for the final eight minutes. Walsall also took the opportunity to introduce more fresh legs, with Ryan Finnigan and Daniel Kanu making way for Brandon Comley and Vincent Harper.
Walsall were awarded a penalty, in the eighty-ninth minute, as Clarke was felled by Bennett inside the area. Aaron Pressley stepped forth to take the spot-kick, but Eastwood went the right way and kept the ball out.
Seven additional minutes were added to end the match, during which time, Rico Browne became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Kachunga.
Walsall could have pulled a goal back three minutes into added time, as Clarke crossed the ball into the box for Adomah, but his headed effort goal-wards was easily saved.
There was little further action of note, and the game was eventually brought to its conclusion with Cambridge winning by two-goals-to-nil. A disappointing start to the new year for the Saddlers, who failed to take their chances when presented.
| KNIGHT (45+2') KNIGHT (53') |
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| AT | ABBEY STADIUM |
| REFEREE | WAYNE CARTMEL |