The Saddlers will be back in League Two action on Saturday afternoon as they visit the Mornflake Stadium and take on Crewe Alexandra.NEWS & VIEWS
Well, the seemingly inevitable finally happened. On Wednesday afternoon, the club confirmed that it had parted ways with head coach Mat Sadler, ending his near three-year reign in WS1, with Darren Byfield charged with leading the team until a successor is secured.
Losing away to Salford City on the evening before, the Saddlers continued their dismal run of form, with the now leader-less team registering just three wins across their last seventeen league games.
Clearly, something hasn't been working for quite some time. Given what happened at the tail end of last season, the board of directors took far too long to react to what should have been staring them in the face.
A lack of tactical direction, along with players steadily declining in not just form but also belief, has seen what was once a promising campaign dwindle into one of almost desperation.
This weekend's trip to Crewe is yet another example of a six-pointer, with the Railwaymen sitting three points above their visitors, with a win likely to take them back into the Play-Off places.
Despite their recent run, a win for the Saddlers would take them into Play-Off contention and serve as a much-needed morale boost as we get set to embark on a new chapter in WS1.
THE OPPOSITION
The Alex also suffered defeat last time out as Bristol Rovers added three welcome points to their tally as they look to avoid being dragged back towards the relegation places.
Taking the lead via Alfie Pond in the first-half, the Alex conceded two goals in the second forty-five, Tommy Leigh scoring his first goals for the club since making a short-term switch from Bradford City in January.
FACTFILE: CREWE ALEXANDRA
Nicknames: The Railwaymen, The Alex
Founded: 1877
Ground: Gresty Road
Manager: Lee Bell
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been eighty-one competitive meetings between Walsall and Crewe Alexandra, and the Saddlers hold an overall head-to-head advantage, having won thirty-four times, compared to Crewe's twenty-five. The spoils have been shared twenty-two times.
Their first meeting was a League Division Two match that took place at the Alexandra Recreation Ground on Saturday, 5th November 1892, and saw the sides engage in a goal-fest which Walsall Town Swifts won 6-5.
Walsall would remain undefeated for the next six meetings between the two, with Crewe's first win not arriving until Saturday, 22nd April 1922, as they won two-nil at the original Gresty Road.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting between the Saddlers and Railwaymen took place at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on Boxing Day, Friday, 26 December 2025, and saw the Saddlers win by a goal to nil.
Walsall grabbed the first and only goal of the game with just moments of first-half stoppage time remaining when Jamille Matt reacted quickly to strike the ball home after Aden Flint had seen a header saved.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that Stephen Parkinson will take charge of the match, with Daniel Smith and Danny Guest named as assistant referees. Zharir Mustafa has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES
|
27
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
101
| 2
|
PENALTIES
|
6
|
CATCH THE MATCH
Unable to make it to the Mornflake Stadium on Saturday afternoon? Well, Walsall's in-house service Saddlers+ has you covered!
Options include Monthly and Annual Audio passes. Visit their website for further information.