Walsall's 2026 began with a trip to Cambridgeshire and the Cledara Abbey Stadium as they took on in-form Cambridge United in Sky Bet League Two.
The first goal of the game didn't arrive until the second minute of first-half stoppage time. James Brophy was quick to react to a defensive error as he passed the ball to Ben Knight, who happily struck the ball into the back of the net.
Cambridge doubled their lead early in the second-half when, following yet more defensive pondering, Knight lofted the ball over an onrushing Myles Roberts to give his side a seemingly comfortable advantage.
Walsall were awarded a late penalty following a foul inside the area, but it wasn't to be as substitute Aaron Pressley was denied from the spot by United goalkeeper Jake Eastwood, who produced a strong save.
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO
| CAMBRIDGE | WALSALL |
| KNIGHT (45+2') KNIGHT (53') |
|
| BROPHY (45+2') APPÉRÉ (53') |
|
| 55 | 45 |
| 8 | 11 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 3 | 1 |
| 2 | 6 |
| 14 | 18 |
| 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 |
| AT |
| ATTENDANCE |
| REFEREE |
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
Eastwood; Bennett, Ball (Hoddle, 65'), Watts, Brophy (Purrington, 73'), Appéré (Lavery, 73'), Kaikai, Kinght (Kachunga, 82'), Ibsen Rossi, McLoughlin (Ruddock Mpanzu, 65'), Jobe
Unused: Hughes; Gibbons
WALSALL
Roberts; Browne 🟨, Flint, Weir; Lakin; Barrett (Adomah, 69'), Jellis (Clarke, 69'), Finnigan (Comley, 82'), Okeke; Kanu (Harper, 82'), Matt (Pressley, 32')
Unused: Hornby, Cox