After a ten-day break the League Two leaders return to action at Edgeley Park this weekend, as we take on Walsall looking for a first win in four league games.
An injury-stricken County side fell to just a second defeat in 21 league outings last time out, as closest rivals Mansfield Town won 2-0 at Edgeley Park to cut our lead at the top to two points.
With County not in action last weekend, The Stags had the opportunity to become the first side to move above us in the league table since October, but were beaten 1-0 at home to Crewe Alexandra thanks to an early goal from Newcastle loanee Joe White. We remain two points clear of both Mansfield and Wrexham, and three clear of Barrow in fourth after their 1-0 win over Tranmere Rovers.
Elsewhere in League Two this weekend, Mansfield travel to Morecambe, Wrexham host play-off chasing AFC Wimbledon in North Wales, whilst Barrow go to bottom of the table Sutton United.
Opponents Walsall come into this game as one of the form sides in League Two, on their best run of the campaign despite a 4-0 FA Cup defeat at Southampton last time out. The Saddlers have won five of their last six in League Two to climb up to 13th, just three points shy of a play-off spot.
Things you need to know:
- Tickets in the Vitality Railway End are still available for this fixture, with all other stands now sold out! Click here to order yours today!
- As part of our County Collective programme, we aim to make Edgeley Park a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who visits. Click here to see a full list of new initiatives that have been introduced at the ground this year!
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 1.00pm! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- Coming to the game on Monday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- This fixture will be available for overseas supporters to watch over on Stockport County Live, whilst featuring live match audio commentary from Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne will be available for supporters in the UK. Click here to purchase your video match passes today.
Since we last met:
The reverse fixture between these two sides came in just the second game of the season, with both teams coming into it having suffered opening day defeats to Gillingham and Morecambe respectively.
Despite County dominating the opening proceedings that day, it was the home side who took all three points through goals from Danny Johnson and Aramide Oteh – making it the second straight season that the Hatters had lost their opening two fixtures.
Inconsistent would perhaps be the best way to describe Walsall’s form since that day – until recent weeks, anyway. The Saddlers followed up that win against Dave Challinor’s side with a run of just three wins in 12 in all competitions. Amongst that run, there were impressive wins away at Salford City and Bradford City, but also an embarrassing 4-0 loss at basement side Sutton United.
Defeat at Barrow in late November left them languishing down in 19th, having won just five of their opening 19 league fixtures – six points above the relegation zone and ten points off a play-off spot.
Since then, however, things have started to click into gear for the aptly named Mat Sadler and his side. A surprise 2-1 win over Notts County was followed up with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tranmere Rovers at the Poundland Bescot Stadium – just the second time they had managed back-to-back victories in the league this season.
Despite a 2-1 defeat away at Accrington a week later, the midlands side have really found their form over the festive period. First promotion-chasing Crewe were dispatched 2-0 at the Bescot on Boxing Day, before high-flying Wrexham suffered the same fate just a few days later, losing 3-1.
The best was still to come on New Year’s Day however, with a stunning 6-1 win away at Grimsby Town – their biggest away league victory since 1948.
Those six goals came despite top scorer Freddie Draper drawing a blank – a sign that will no doubt comfort boss Mat Sadler given he will have to navigate the rest of the season without the Irishman, who has been recalled by parent side Lincoln City.
Sadler has reacted to that loss by moving to bring in striker Josh Gordon on loan from Burton Albion – the 29-year-old returning to Walsall having spent three years with the club between 2018-2021. Some County fans may remember him for scoring against County on the opening day of last season for Barrow at Edgeley Park, one of 15 goals goals Gordon managed in 2022/23.
Hear what the manager had to say about the game below:
Match Stats:
- Walsall hold the historical advantage in the 54 previous meetings between the two sides – winning 24 encounters to County’s 20. We have won just two of our last 15 games against the Saddlers, losing ten in that time.
- County have never lost back-to-back home games under Dave Challinor. The last time we lost consecutive games at Edgeley Park in the same season came in January 2021, losing to West Ham in the FA Cup and to Notts County in the FA Trophy. In the league, you have to go back to September 2019 for the last time we lost successive home games, against Solihull Moors and Torquay United.
- Connor Lemonheigh Evans will be available for this fixture having been recalled from his loan spell at AFC Wimbledon. One of the three goals Connor scored during his time with the Dons came against Walsall – a 3-1 win at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in September.
