Friendly Faces And Familiar Foes - Walsall FC Gameweek 1

Graphic Depicting Aaron Pressley, Isaac Moore, and a certain Wycombe Wanderers player...

As the Saddlers' competitive season started a day before everybody else's, it's only fair that this article is... late. Lee Grant's men began the campaign with a solid performance and fantastic victory versus Bristol City of the Championship. Throughout the game, Walsall showed fantastic defensive resolve as well as pragmatism on the ball. Moving forwards at speed, utilising our wingers and a big target man in the box - the perfect recipe for a 0-1 smash-and-grab against the Championship play-off contenders of last season. Declan Skura was one of the standout players making his competitive Walsall debut, with superb defensive work to help ensure a first clean sheet of the season was kept intact and that Jed Ward's goal was kept safe. The Reds' Goalkeeper himself also produced a fantastic display, which he also carried through into the league opener against Gillingham, keeping a second clean sheet in two games and making eight saves, some of which were vital for Walsall.

Elicha Ahui has also been a talking point of the first two games of the season, making his first competitive appearance for the Saddlers since signing back in 2024, following a spell on loan at Drogheda, and a long term injury - and his performance was fine enough for Lee Grant to keep his faith in the right back who also started the Gillingham game, with both performances more than satisfactory. Roman Dixon was also handed his first minutes of the campaign after signing for the Saddlers, coming on in the second half to help shore up the defence, and offer pace and skill down the right hand flank.

At the top end of the pitch, Aaron Pressley has begun his season in fine form, with two goals in two appearances so far, a much-needed start for the target man who seems to be finding his feet under Lee Grant, perhaps a system with wingers suiting him much more than the previous allowing him to hold up play and set free runners beyond him, and with more crosses coming into the box he found himself free in the middle to fire home against Bristol City, and then with the set-up for one goal and a front post header for himself against Gillingham which should give him a world of confidence going forward. Similarly, against Gillingham Courtney Clarke again proved his danger off the bench as he came on and was directly involved in all three Walsall goals, although only claiming one assist. The determination and quality that Clarke has shown time and time again prove that he is a vital asset for Walsall, and one who can turn games on their head single-handedly, offering a different dimension to our play.

Tai Sodje also made his mark off the bench against the Gills, coming on to partner Aaron Pressley up front, and was full of energy, making runs beyond his strike partner and proving to be a thorn in the side of the opposition, and is a player I'm sure all Saddlers fans are looking forward to seeing more of.

This start to the season sees Walsall through to the second round of the Carabao Cup, and sit atop the League Two table at the end of Gameweek 1; however, this is not a sight that will necessarily excite Walsall fans, knowing how the last two seasons have unfolded. And just in case you weren't already sceptical - the last time the Saddlers won 0-3 away at Gillingham... we were relegated that season (Thanks to @ribbonpodcast on Twitter for that fun fact...).

In non-match-related news, a rumour that all Walsall fans will want to see go our way has popped up in the last few days - the Wycombe manager recently revealed that he is looking to send at least two of their players out on loan before the end of the summer window. At the same time, former Walsall fan favourite, captain fantastic, Taylor Allen was recently spotted at a Rushall Olympic match and left out of the squad for their League One opener.

Saddlers fans have since been calling on the club to get the deal done. With Vincent Harper departing on loan to Exeter (confusing, I know), it is expected that a left-sided defender will come in to replace him... and Walsall fans are now convinced that it could be Taylor Allen. The move seems to make sense for both parties - if Allen is surplus to requirements at Wycombe, why not let him come back to the club where he enjoyed the most success, had two fantastic campaigns under Mat Sadler and earned his move to a higher division.