A look back on our 2015/16 campaign...
AUGUSTThe 2015/16 season began with a flourish as Walsall climbed to the League One summit and progressed to the Capital One Cup third round.
After being held to a 1-1 opening-day draw with Oldham, the Saddlers knocked out Championship side Nottingham Forest 4-3 in the League Cup, with Tom Bradshaw netting a hat-trick.
A comfortable 2-0 win at newly-promoted Southend was followed by 2-1 victories over Rochdale and Coventry.
We then beat Championship high-flyers Brighton by the same scoreline in the League Cup to secure our place in round three for the first time since 2002.
A Romaine Sawyers-inspired Walsall then thrashed Blackpool 4-0 – our sixth successive win in all competitions – to round off a truly outstanding opening month.
Boss Dean Smith was named August’s League One Manager of the Month.
Sam Mantom celebrating his header at Blackpool
SEPTEMBER
The Saddlers remained among the League One pace-setters despite a mixed month results-wise in September.
The month started in disappointing fashion with a 2-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Morecambe and a 1-0 reverse against Bury, which ended our unbeaten league start.
We responded with a 2-0 victory over Doncaster and a 1-1 draw at Peterborough, before losing 4-1 to reigning Premier League champions Chelsea in the Capital One Cup third round.
Despite that result, Walsall were praised by then-Blues boss Jose Mourinho, who described the quality of our football as the best he had ever seen from a third-tier side.
September concluded with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Crewe and a 1-0 success at Scunthorpe.
Left-back Rico Henry was named the Football League’s Young Player of the Month.
Tom Bradshaw's late brace gave Walsall victory over Doncaster