Match Preview | Walsall (H)

Newport look to return to winning ways at Rodney Parade this Friday night when they welcome Mat Sadler’s Walsall.

After making several changes for the game against Swindon, manager Graham Coughlan has shown that there are places up for grabs in the starting 11. Jonny Maxted, Nathan Wood, and Lewis Payne were given their first league starts of the campaign, and all three will be looking to hold their position in the team. Matt Baker also made his long-awaited return to the club, getting 57 minutes under his belt as he looks to hold down a permanent position.

Manager’s Comments 

Graham Coughlan was complimentary of tomorrow evening's opponents in his pre-match press conference: "Walsall are a very attack-minded side," stated Coughlan.

"They'll come after us, they'll press hard, play on the front foot.

"They're a big and physical team with some clinical players, if you present opportunities to those players, they'll take them.

"Walsall are at a good moment in time, they're playing well, scoring goals. We'll have to roll our sleeves up, be up for the scrap and see where we are."

Opposition Form 

To say Friday’s visitors have been inconsistent so far this season would be an understatement. The last four games have seen the Saddlers pick up an impressive 3-1 away win against Bradford City, draw 0-0 with MK Dons, get thrashed 4-0 by bottom-of-the-league Sutton, and then defeat promotion-chasing Gillingham 4-1 at the Poundland Bescot Stadium last week. 

Midfielder Isaac Hutchinson grabbed the headlines in that win, netting his first career hat trick with an impressive display. The Saddlers have no fresh injury worries ahead of the game and are likely to field an unchanged XI from the one that beat Gillingham last Saturday. 

Ticket Info 

Ticket prices for our match with Walsall are as follows. Fans can pick up tickets for the game at Rodney Parade ticket office before the match alternatively by clicking here.

It should be noted that ticket prices will increase by £2 if purchased on the day.

Last Time Out 

The previously mentioned Issac Hutchinson was the man on the score sheet for Walsall last time we played them. The game, which took place at the Bescot Stadium in February, ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to a late equaliser from Cameron Norman.

Head to Head 

Our very first competitive encounter with Walsall dates back to 1927, a 3-0 win up in the West Midlands. Since then, we have played each other in league and cup a total of 70 times. Currently, we are just ahead, having won 27 games to Walsall’s 24. We have drawn on 19 occasions. 

Played for Both 

There are several notable former Newport players who have gone on to play for Walsall, including two who are in the current squad. Priestley Farquharson joined the Saddlers in the summer but has been plagued by injuries in his early days at the club, he has not appeared since going off 20 minutes in against AFC Wimbledon at the end of November. 

Jamille Matt also joined Walsall this summer after three years at Forest Green Rovers. Matt left Newport in 2020 after hitting the net 20 times in 96 games between 2018 and 2020. He has largely been an impact player since joining the club, coming off the bench in the 79th minute in last week’s win against Gillingham. 

Another player who swapped South Wales for the West Midlands in recent years was Joss Labadie. Labadie spent five seasons at Rodney Parade, making 122 appearances and being instrumental in the team’s successes during that time. He spent two seasons at Walsall before being released this summer.

Notable Events

Tomorrow's clash is our dedicated Show Racism the Red Card game where players will be wearing shirts with an anti-racism message on in their pre-match warm up, as well as other events around the ground prior to kick-off. You can read more on this event here.