Walsall continue to close in on the end of their 2025/26 League Two campaign as they welcome Newport County to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium this weekend.NEWS & VIEWS
After avoiding defeat in their last two outings, including a midweek draw at home to Cambridge United, the club confirmed that Darren Byfield will now be in charge for the remainder of the season, a decision that was almost universally accepted.
Swiftly steadying the ship, Darren has done great work in a short space of time. Bringing fringe players back into the fold and reshaping how the team sets up, the last two games were in stark contrast to many that preceded them and have given many a fan a bit of hope as we go into the final eight games of the season.
Despite going through a dismal spell of form that saw them win just two of fourteen games, the Saddlers remain just two points off the Play-Off places heading into this weekend's game and could take a giant leap towards a place on the end-of-season schedule.
Of course, this is Walsall we're talking about – there are bound to be plenty more ups and downs as we close in on the end of the campaign – but there has been a clear rise in belief amongst players and fans alike, a feeling that will only grow if they can add more points this weekend.
TEAM NEWS
On the injury front, Jid Okeke and Courtney Clarke returned to training midweek, whilst Priestley Farquharson will be assessed ahead of kick-off.
Jamille Matt (knee) is ruled out. Connor Barrett and Evan Weir are fit but not favoured, as Darren Byfield continues to take a look at the options available to him.
THE OPPOSITION
Sitting just above the relegation zone, Christian Fuchs' Newport County have lost two of their last three league games.
Their most recent outing took place in midweek and saw them succumb to league leaders Bromley by a goal to nil as former Exile Corey Whitely scored the only goal of the game to take all three points.
FACTFILE: NEWPORT COUNTY
Nickname: The Exiles
Founded: 1912
Ground: Rodney Parade
Manager: Christian Fuchs
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Newport County have met on seventy-five previous occasions, and it's the Exiles who hold an overall Head-to-Head lead, having won on twenty-eight previous occasions compared to the Saddlers' twenty-six.
There have also been twenty-one draws over the fixture's history, a history which began at Fellows Park on Saturday, 8th October 1927, as the two sides met in a Division Three (South) clash which Newport won by three goals to nil.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting took place at the Exiles' Rodney Parade on Saturday, 8th November 2025, and saw the Saddlers win 4-2.
The home side withstood some early Walsall pressure before going on to grab the opening goal of the game with sixteen minutes on the clock as Kai Whitmore put the ball in the back of the net.
Walsall didn't allow their opponents' goal to get them down and were soon back on level terms when Addick Daniel Kanu notched his sixth goal of the season just moments after the Exiles' opener.
The Saddlers used Kanu's opener as momentum and went on to take the lead a couple of minutes later when on-loan Blackpool midfielder Ryan Finnigan scored his first league goal, shocking the home side.
Walsall added to their lead with seven minutes of the first-half remaining when Ryan Finnigan added his second goal of the afternoon as the Saddlers looked to have fully recovered from their earlier setback.
Unfortunately for Walsall, the home side went on to cut their lead to one just before half-time when Gerard Garner put the ball beyond Miles Roberts and into the back of the net. An action-packed first forty-five.
The Saddlers re-established their two-goal lead early in the second-half when Rico Browne got on the end of an Evan Weir free-kick to open his goal-scoring account for the season.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that long-serving match official Ross Joyce, who is based in Cleveland, will take charge of the match.
His most recent Saddlers match took place at the Wham Stadium on Saturday, 27th September, and saw the Saddlers defeat Accrington Stanley 3-1. Walsall defender Aden Flint was the only player to pick up a booking.
David Middleton and Kevin Morris were named as assistant referees, whilst Jason Porter has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES
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30
|
YELLOW
CARDS |
RED
CARDS |
101
| 0
|
PENALTIES
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7
|
CATCH THE MATCH
Unable to make it to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on Tuesday evening? Well, Walsall's in-house service Saddlers+ has you covered! Options include Monthly and Annual Audio passes. Visit their website for further information.