Walsall's 2026/27 Sky Bet League Two campaign continues on Saturday afternoon as they welcome Rochdale to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.THE SADDLERS
Walsall's unbeaten start to the league season continued last weekend as they and fellow strong-starters Exeter City played out a goalless draw at St James Park. The match seeing a handful of golden opportunities spurned by both sides.
Going into the game on the back of a two-all draw with Crewe Alexandra that saw Aaron Pressley grab his fourth and fifth goals of the campaign, the Saddlers once again showed plenty of defensive might, though would have been disappointed not to have taken all three points.
TEAM NEWS
Walsall have a few injury concerns, with the likes of Declan Skura, Rico Browne, Roman Dixon, and Alex Pattison among the walking wounded.
Head Coach Lee Grant expects Brown and Skura to be available for selection, but Dixon and Pattison remain sidelined as they look to return to fitness.
Harry Williams is also still out as he continues his steady recovery from an ACL injury.
Head Coach Lee Grant expects Brown and Skura to be available for selection, but Dixon and Pattison remain sidelined as they look to return to fitness.
Harry Williams is also still out as he continues his steady recovery from an ACL injury.
THE OPPOSITION
Rochdale have endured a difficult start to their League Two campaign. After winning the National League Play-Offs last season, Dale fans would have hoped to see their team build upon their 106-points season when the season began just a few short weeks ago.
However, that has been far from the case, as they lost their opening three league games. as well as being knocked out of the Carabao Cup in Round One, after defeating Tranmere Rovers in the Preliminary Round.
Dale's only win in the league so far this season came at the expense of fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town, as goals from Babajide Adeeko, Luke Hannant, and Jonny Smith saw them record a welcome win.
Making it four defeats in five league games, their most recent outing took place last weekend and saw Gillingham ease to victory by four goals to one.
FORM GUIDE
Walsall - WDWDD: The Saddlers are undefeated in the league so far this season, and will be looking to end a run of two consecutive draws when they welcome the Dale to town this weekend.
Rochdale - LLLWL: The Dale have struggled to find their feet so far this season. Winning just one of their opening five league games, they're in dire need of a win.
Rochdale - LLLWL: The Dale have struggled to find their feet so far this season. Winning just one of their opening five league games, they're in dire need of a win.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Walsall and Rochdale have met on sixty-nine previous occasions, and it's the Saddlers who are on the back foot having secured just twenty-four victories compared to Rochdale's twenty-eight.
There have also been seventeen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Spotland Stadium on Saturday, 24th December 1921, and saw the Dale ease to a more than comfortable seven-nil Division Three (North) win.
There have also been seventeen draws over the history of the fixture, a history which began at Spotland Stadium on Saturday, 24th December 1921, and saw the Dale ease to a more than comfortable seven-nil Division Three (North) win.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent competitive clash, which was also in League Two, took place at Dale's Crown Oil Arena on Friday, 7th April 2023 and saw the home side secure the win 4-2.
Walsall got the first goal of the game shortly after the halfway point in the first-half as Jamille Matt opened his account for the season with a finish from close range.
Sadly for the Saddlers, they were unable to hold onto their lead for long, as veteran forward Ian Henderson levelled the scores a couple of minutes before half-time.
And Rochdale weren't done there, as Danny Lloyd went on to put his team ahead with a close-range finish after Owen Evans had produced a fine save to deny Odoh, only for Lloyd to tap it in.
Walsall got themselves back on level terms with just six minutes of the second-half played as Tom Knowles capitalised upon a loose ball to grab his fifth goal of the season.
The Saddlers were soon behind again as, a few minutes after having a goal chalked off for a foul in the build-up, the home side put themselves back ahead with Max Taylor getting the better of Owens in the Walsall goal.
Rochdale's determination to at least try and escape the bottom two before the end of the season bore its ugly head once again as Ethan Brierley went on to double his side's lead eleven minutes into the second forty-five, Owen Evans unable to thwart his advances.
Walsall got the first goal of the game shortly after the halfway point in the first-half as Jamille Matt opened his account for the season with a finish from close range.
Sadly for the Saddlers, they were unable to hold onto their lead for long, as veteran forward Ian Henderson levelled the scores a couple of minutes before half-time.
And Rochdale weren't done there, as Danny Lloyd went on to put his team ahead with a close-range finish after Owen Evans had produced a fine save to deny Odoh, only for Lloyd to tap it in.
Walsall got themselves back on level terms with just six minutes of the second-half played as Tom Knowles capitalised upon a loose ball to grab his fifth goal of the season.
The Saddlers were soon behind again as, a few minutes after having a goal chalked off for a foul in the build-up, the home side put themselves back ahead with Max Taylor getting the better of Owens in the Walsall goal.
Rochdale's determination to at least try and escape the bottom two before the end of the season bore its ugly head once again as Ethan Brierley went on to double his side's lead eleven minutes into the second forty-five, Owen Evans unable to thwart his advances.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Many players have played in the red of Walsall and blue of Rochdale, with the likes of Richard O'Donnell, Olly Lancashire, Dean Holden, Liam Dickinson, and Donervon Daniels all featuring.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Jamie O'Connor who is based in Derbyshire will take charge of the match with Marc Wilson and James Wilson being named as assistant referees, whilst Matthew Parry has been selected as Fourth Official.
Last season, O'Connor took charge of 32 games across a variety of competitions, where he issued 115 cautions, 6 red cards, and awarded eight penalties.
CATCH THE MATCH
The Saddlers' in-house service Saddlers+ will once again provide Audio Match Passes to UK-based fans, whilst those overseas will be able to purchase Video Match Passes.