County take on Walsall for the third time this season on Sunday afternoon, as we go head to head at Edgeley Park for a place in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Dave Challinor’s side have so far knocked out Swindon Town and League One Charlton Athletic, the latter in a thrilling replay at Edgeley Park, to reach the third round of the competition for the second time in three seasons.
We will be looking to progress through to the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 2001, a season where we entered the competition in the third round as a Championship Club, beating Preston North End and Crewe Alexandra before losing at Tottenham in the Fifth Round.
Walsall have also beaten League One opposition en route to the third round, winning away at Wycombe Wanderers in the first round, before beating promotion-chasing Carlisle United at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
The Midlands side last reached the fourth round proper during the 2015/16 season, beating Fleetwood Town, Chesterfield and Brentford before losing 4-0 at Championship side Reading.
Don’t forget, County fans can now park at the NCP Car Park at Stockport Train Station for a discounted price of just £3 on a match day, via the ParkPass App! Click here for more information.
Coming to the game on Sunday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 12pm! For more information on all the food, drink and entertainment on offer this week, click here.
Since we last met:
Just ten days will have passed since County last faced Walsall in League Two, as a Kyle Wootton brace secured a big three points on the road, in arguably the side’s most complete performance of the season.
That result, Walsall’s first defeat in all competitions since October, lifted us above the Saddlers in the table and to within two points of the play-off places.
Both sides have played just once more since that day – County losing 1-0 away at Grimsby on New Year’s Day, whilst Michael Flynn’s side bounced back in impressive fashion with a 2-1 win against play-off rivals Mansfield.
Those results leave them once again above us in the league and back within two points of the play-offs themselves.
They were dealt a blow earlier in the window with the news that energetic wing-back Liam Bennett had been recalled from his loan by parent Club Cambridge United. The 21-year-old had become a key part of Flynn’s team on the right-hand-side, appearing 25 times in all competitions before seeing his time at the Club cut short.
They have since been proactive in the market with two new additions – 20-year-old centre-half Joe Low has joined on loan from Bristol City, having made two appearances for the Robins this season in league and cup, whilst versatile midfielder Robbie Willmott has joined on loan from Newport County.
Willmott, 32, worked with Flynn during the Welshman’s time in charge at Newport, and is capable of playing on the wing, at wing-back and as an attacking midfielder. Both players are available for Sunday’s game at Edgeley Park, in a game both sides will see as a real opportunity to set up a potential big tie in the next round.
Match Stats:
- This will be just the fourth time the two sides have ever met in the FA Cup. County won the first tie via a replay in the Qualifying Rounds, all the way back in December 1905, before losing subsequent meetings in 1979 and 1984.
- County have lost just one of their last eleven FA Cup games at Edgeley Park, winning nine, with our only defeat in that time coming to Premier League West Ham.
- If selected on Sunday, Myles Hippolyte will make his 50th appearance for the Club since joining from Scunthorpe.
