Salop make the short trip across the Midlands for our first derby day of the season against Walsall today. 

Mat Sadler’s team are flying high at the top of the table, and Town will be looking to bring their run to a grinding halt.

Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s hosts ahead of the game.  

Key Players 

Like last season, Walsall’s success this campaign has been built on their attacking prowess. Daniel Kanu has been tearing it up for the Saddlers in recent weeks, scoring five in his last seven appearances, including the winner away at Oldham on Wednesday night.  

Kanu’s youth is complemented nicely by the experience of Jamille Matt and Albert Adomah, who are 36 and 38, respectively.  

There is also plenty of experience at the back, with 36-year-old Aden Flint proving to be a rock in defence after signing from Mansfield this summer. Wing-back Connor Barrett has continued his impressive form from last season, while 19-year-old Daniel Cox, on loan from Derby County, returned to the side last weekend after a spell on the sidelines.  

The Manager 

Walsall’s manager is a man who needs no introduction to Salop fans. Mat Sadler is rightly regarded as one of the best defenders to put on a blue and amber shirt since we moved to the Croud Meadow, making over 200 appearances for us over two spells.  

Sadler hung up his boots in 2023 and took charge of Walsall as manager less than a year later. In his first full season at the club, he guided the Saddlers to the play-off final, losing 1-0 to Wimbledon. He currently holds an impressive 45% win record in over 140 games in charge.  

Form  

Walsall come into today's game four points clear at the top of the league, and five points clear of the play-off spots. After a blip in October, the Saddlers have won five of their last six games, including back-to-back away wins at Newport and Oldham in their last two.  

Head-to-Head Record  

Our first competitive encounter with Walsall took place in 1945 when we defeated them 5-0 in the FA Cup at Gay Meadow. They would get revenge in the second leg, defeating us 4-1. Our first league encounter would take place six years later, ending in a 2-1 win for the Saddlers. We have played Walsall a whopping 100 times over the last 80 years. Our last league encounter ended in a 0-0 draw in 2019, confirming Walsall’s relegation to League Two on the final day of the 18/19 season.