As the Saddlers kick-off their Papa John’s Trophy campaign against West Ham United Under 21s tonight, we take a look back on how Walsall have got on against in recent meetings against the academy sides.
2021/22 – Walsall 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion U21s
The Saddlers kicked off their 2021/22 Papa John’s Trophy group stage campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion and got off to a winning start.
Kieran Phillips, on loan from Huddersfield Town, scored the only goal of the game just before half time in what turned out to be a routine victory for Walsall.
With the hosts looking comfortable in the second half, things got worse for Brighton when Gary Dicker was sent off and the Saddlers were able to see the game out relatively easily.
The Saddlers progressed from their group in second place but were knocked out in the last 32 after a 2-0 defeat away at League One side Cambridge United.
2019/20 – Walsall 3-2 Chelsea U21s
Walsall reached the last 16 of the Papa John’s Trophy in the 2019/20 season and after winning their group, they were drawn against Chelsea Under 21s in the last 32.
The Blues got off to a flying start as Tariq Lamptey, now a regular in the Premier League with Brighton, scored an excellent brace to give the Saddlers a mountain to climb.
Climb the mountain they did. The hosts were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty seven minutes into the second half which Caolan Lavery tucked away before Wes McDonald equalised with a fine finish with 11 minutes of normal time to play to set up a grand stand finish.
The Saddlers completed the turnaround in style as Dan Scarr volleyed in the winner in the 94th minute as Darrell Clarke’s side progressed.
Walsall bowed out in the last 16 following a 2-1 home defeat to League One Portsmouth.
2018/19 – Walsall 3-1 Middlesbrough U21s
The Saddlers took on Middlesbrough’s U21s in their second group game in the 2018/19 season.
Jack Fitzwater and Maz Kouhyar both netted in the first half as Walsall raced into a 2-0 lead.
Dan Ward pulled one back for the visitors midway through the second half and missed a good chance to level the score shortly after but the Saddlers made sure of the victory as Andy Cook found the net with a thunderous strike with a minute to go.
That put the Saddlers on six points from their opening two group games and despite losing to Port Vale in the final group match, still progressed to the knockout stages but were beaten by Shrewsbury Town in the last 32.