The Saddlers travel to Peterborough this Saturday...
Walsall will be looking to build on last weekend’s battling 1-0 victory over high-flying Bolton – a first league win in seven – when they travel to Peterborough this weekend. Both teams have made inconsistent starts to the new campaign. Grant McCann’s Posh are in ninth position – just two points ahead of the Saddlers – and are the division’s second-highest scorers with 15 goals (only Scunthorpe with 18 have netted more). Jon Whitney’s Walsall, meanwhile, can climb up to seventh with a win, which would be their first away from home this season.
Peterborough: 9th – P8 W3 D2 L3 F15 A11 PTS11
Walsall: 16th – P8 W2 D3 L3 F9 A11 PTS9
17th September – Sheff Utd 1-0 Peterborough – League One
Matt Done’s first-half strike earned Sheffield United a fourth successive league win and condemned Peterborough to a first defeat in four. The ex-Rochdale man broke the deadlock on 13 minutes when he converted Kieron Freeman’s low cross at the near post. Posh pushed for a leveller, with Paul Taylor, Gwion Edwards and Marcus Maddison each being denied by home keeper Simon Moore.
17th September – Walsall 1-0 Bolton – League One
Jason McCarthy’s first goal of the season gave resilient Walsall a battling victory over high-flying Bolton, despite playing 74 minutes with ten men. Joe Edwards was harshly dismissed for the Saddlers on 16 minutes for an elbow on Chris Taylor, but McCarthy bundled the hosts ahead nine minutes later from a Kieron Morris free-kick. Neil Etheridge made a string of impressive second-half saves to thwart the Trotters, who then had Keshi Anderson sent off in added time for two bookable offences.
Peterborough wins: 15
Walsall wins: 20
Draws: 13
28th December 2015 – Walsall 2-0 Peterborough – League One
Walsall stayed top of League One after late goals from Jason Demetriou and George Evans secured victory over promotion-rivals Peterborough. Sam Mantom rattled a post for the Saddlers early on, while in-form Posh striker Conor Washington twice went close. The hosts went ahead on 81 minutes through Demetriou's deflected strike and Evans then poked home to seal a fifth consecutive league win.
Peterborough Manager: Grant McCann
The former Northern Ireland international was appointed Peterborough manager on a four-year deal in May 2016 after impressing in caretaker charge. The 36-year-old played for Posh between 2010 and 2015, making over 150 league appearances and helping them win promotion from League One in 2010/11. McCann, a midfielder by trade, also represented West Ham, Cheltenham, Barnsley and Scunthorpe in a 17-year playing career.
Peterborough Star Man: Gwion Edwards
Welsh winger who is Peterborough’s joint leading scorer this season with four goals. The 23-year-old, who is a former Swansea trainee, joined the London Road club from Crawley in June for an undisclosed six-figure fee. He spent two years with the Red Devils, netting 13 goals in 87 appearances.
Joe Edwards is suspended, while Isaiah Osbourne and Flo Cuvelier will assessed. Reece Flanagan and Rory Oliver are long-term absentees.
Ben Toner
The Lancashire-based official has taken charge of seven matches this season, brandishing 21 yellow cards and no reds. The last Walsall game he refereed was our 1-0 defeat at Oldham in April.
Pre-match build-up, live in-game coverage and post-match reaction will be available on our official Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Snapchat and Instagram accounts.