Match Preview: v Milton Keynes Dons (A)
09/06/2024 03:30 AM
Walsall return to league action this weekend as they make the trip to Buckinghamshire where they'll take on Milton Keynes Dons.
PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS
Walsall's strong start to the season continued in midweek as they secured a bonus point win in the EFL Trophy against well-backed Birmingham City at St. Andrew's.
Opening the scoring via Charlie Lakin early in the second-half, the Saddlers were ultimately taken to penalties where they overcame their opponents to take their third League One scalp of the season.
With attention turning to the league, the Saddlers have last weekend's win over Cheltenham Town to build upon, with the result seeing them secure a third win in four league games - form that sees them sit second in the table ahead of kick-off.
Of course, early season form will count for nothing if the team isn't able to maintain their recent levels over the remainder of the season, something not helped by the ever-increasing injury list.
Opponents MK Dons have endured a much more difficult start to the season. Winning one of the four games, they most recently slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Salford City, as they failed to build upon a comfortable triumph over Carlisle United just over a week earlier.
WALSALL TEAM NEWS
Walsall's extensive injury list includes the likes of Donervon Daniels, Oisin McEntee, Priestley Farquharson, Liam Gordon, Brandon Comley, and Josh Gordon as Mat Sadler's side continue to suffer from a raft of setbacks.
Meanwhile, Danny Johnson was named on the bench for the Saddlers' midweek EFL Trophy meeting with Birmingham City as he continues to work his way back to fitness.
On-loan goalkeeper Tommy Simkin will not be involved as he is away on international duty with the England Elite League side.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
There have been twenty-seven competitive meetings between Walsall and MK Dons, and it's the Stadium MK side that holds a small head-to-head advantage having won ten times compared to the Saddlers' seven, with the ten remaining games finishing all square.
The first meeting between the two was a League 1 clash that took place at the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday, 30th October 2004, and saw the spoils shared as Darren Wrack's thirteenth-minute opener was cancelled out by Malvin Kamara thirteen minutes later.
THE LAST TIME WE MET
The most recent meeting was a League Two match that took place at Stadium MK on Friday, 29th March 2024 and saw Milton Keynes ease to a comfortable 5-0 win.
Despite not enjoying much of the attacking play, it was the home side who would grab the opening goal of the game as Emre Tezgel scored on the edge of the six-year box following a flicked-on cross.
The second goal of the game also went the way of the home side as Max Dean slammed the ball home from the penalty area as the Saddlers once again gifted their opponents a chance to score.
Milton Keynes added a third goal shortly after the hour mark as captain Alex Gilbey sltted home following Dean's neat pass. The Saddlers simply incapable of thwarting their hosts' advances.
Joe Tomlinson made it four-goals-to-nil with just over fifteen minutes of normal time remaining as the Saddlers' promotion push well and truly hit the buffers.
Max Dean continued to frustrate the Saddlers as the second-half substitute added his second and Milton Keynes' fifth goal as the home side were looking to pile on with more than ten minutes of the game remaining.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The EFL has confirmed that James Oldham, based in Derbyshire, will take charge of the match with Paul Lister-Flynn and Daniel D'Urso being named as assistant referees, whilst Callum Gough has been selected as Fourth Official.
GAMES OFFICIATED |
3 |
YELLOW CARDS | RED CARDS |
14 | 2 |
PENALTIES AWARDED |
0 |
