Walsall Football Club

Burton are making their first trip to the Banks's...

OVERVIEW:
League One leaders Burton are competing in English football’s third tier for the first time in the Club’s 65-year history.

The Brewers were crowned League Two champions last term and have made a flying start to this campaign, winning eight of their opening 11 matches.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been the Club’s manager since October 2014.


THIS SEASON:
Position: 1st
P11 W8 D1 L2 F13 A7 PTS25

Last Five Results:
Southend H 1-0
Sheff Utd H 0-0
Chesterfield A 2-1
Swindon A 1-0
Rochdale H 1-0


NOTABLE FORMER MANAGERS:
Nigel Clough – The ex-Nottingham Forest forward took the reins in October 1998 and masterminded the Club's promotion to the Football League in 2008/09, before joining Derby.

Gary Rowett – The Birmingham boss twice led Burton to the League Two play-offs. He departed for St Andrews in October 2014, leaving the Brewers third in the division.

Peter Taylor – Brian Clough’s assistant at Derby and Nottingham Forest, Taylor managed Albion for three seasons, winning the Southern League Cup in 1964.

Neil Warnock – The former Sheffield United boss spent five years with Burton at the start of his managerial career, lifting the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup in 1983.


NOTABLE FORMER PLAYERS:
To mark the 125-year anniversary of the Football League in 2013, Burton fans were asked to vote for their greatest ever player.

The nominees were:

Aaron Webster (who received 59% of the vote) – The long-serving left-back made over 500 Burton appearances between 1998 and 2013. He scored over 100 goals for the Club.

Darren Stride (34%) – Albion’s captain for 12 years, the versatile midfielder played over 650 competitive matches for the Brewers from 1993 to 2010.

Jacques Maghoma (7%) – The winger made 155 Football League appearances for Burton before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in June 2013. Now at Birmingham, Maghoma was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year in 2012/13.


CLASSIC CAMPAIGNS
2014/15 – Burton won promotion to League One for the first time in the Club’s history after clinching the League Two title. They won 28 of their 46 matches, finishing on 94 points.

2013/14 – Gary Rowett guided the Staffordshire side to the League Two play-off final, where they lost to Fleetwood. It was the Club’s first Wembley appearance in 27 years.

2008/09 – Albion sealed promotion to the Football League after being crowned Conference Premier champions. They accumulated 88 points – two more than second-placed Cambridge.

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This afternoon’s match will be the first competitive meeting between Walsall and Burton.

Kick-off is at 3.00pm.

If you haven’t got a ticket, make sure you tune into Saddlers Player for full uninterrupted commentary at www.player.saddlers.co.uk.

Pre-match build-up, live in-game coverage and post-match reaction will also be available on our Twitter and Facebook pages.