'A Massive Game For Walsall' - The Take On City's Cup Opponents
- Walsall host Leicester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening (7:45pm BST kick-off)
- George Bennett from the Express and Star believes the Saddlers will see it as an opportunity for an upset
- The Sky Bet League 2 side have made a strong start to the new 2024/25 campaign
- Live audio coverage of the game will be available on Foxes Hub
Sky Bet League 2 meets Premier League at Poundland Bescot Stadium on Tuesday as Steve Cooper's Foxes make the short trip across the Midlands in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
It's been a promising start for the Saddlers in the fourth tier, currently sitting third in the table with 15 points from seven games, after missing out on the play-offs last term.
With the opportunity to test themselves against top tier opposition on home soil, Bennett believes manager Mat Sadler will be eager to name a strong XI.
"It’s a massive game under the lights at Bescot, where Walsall have been in fantastic form this season, against Premier League opposition," he explained.
"I know they met in the FA Cup a couple of seasons back when Michael Flynn was manager, but an occasion like this is going to be big for a club like Walsall.
"The league is the bread and butter, but in the cup games, on nights like this, it’s what creates memories.
"Mat Sadler’s going to be wanting to find the balance with a strong start in the league, in terms of his selection, but they’re going to want to go and give a really good account of themselves.
"They’ll try and pull off an upset. They made eight changes in the previous round against Huddersfield, but with the fact they’ve got a round further and it’s two steps up the ladder, I’d be very surprised if there’s anything wholesale.
"Sam Hornby’s been the cup goalkeeper but Tommy Simkin did play in the first round against Exeter, so there’s potential for that.
"I would still expect him to go really strong. Ronan Maher is another one who’s started all the cup games so there’s possibly scope for that.
"Elsewhere, Jamille Matt, at his age, the likelihood of him starting two games in the space of a few days, there’s maybe the possibility of him to come out and Albert Adomah to come in.
"He’s had a fantastic career in the Championship and short time in the Premier League. He’s been outstanding since he came to the club. Those moves can go one of two ways.
"Sometimes players are winding down their careers, but he’s fully embraced it, and the fans already love him.
"He made his 699th professional appearance on Saturday, he’s one shy of 700, so it’s possible that he could come in.
"He started in midweek against Fulham U21s last week and that would be a really monumental individual occasion for him."
Promotion hopes are high at Bescot this year with a number of players impressing after joining the League 2 outfit this summer.
"At the start of the season, there was some uncertainty," Bennett added. "They missed out on the play-offs by five points last season. It was a shame, the way the season ended really.
"Around February and March time, they had a really good spell of five wins in a row, and it created an expectation that they could make that final push for the play-offs.
"The final 11 games, it fizzled out for them. They lost Isaac Hutchinson, who was the talisman for the side, to Bristol Rovers in the summer. Jackson Smith went to Barnsley as well.
"That’s two key players which they lost and it was about how the new signings bedded in.
"Connor Barrett, a former Leicester Academy product actually, came from AFC Flyde and he's massively exceeded expectations.
"He’s got a really good reputation in the National League but making that step up can go one of two ways and so far he’s absolutely flying. It’s five assists for him.
"Nathan Lowe’s come on loan from Stoke as well. At the start of the season, Walsall only had Jamille Matt and Josh Gordon, but Adomah’s played as a makeshift striker to create an extra option.
"Danny Johnson’s now back after missing pre-season. In the opening games, he’s scored two match winners against Bradford and Fulham U21s.
"Reyes Cleary is on loan from West Bromwich Albion and Nathan Lowe has been absolutely fantastic.
"He scored a fantastic finish the other day against Salford and set up the other one with a lovely touch and unselfish pass for Charlie Lakin. I think he can be the major threat.
"He’s only 19 years old but he’s 6 ft 3 in. He’s a really intelligent, proactive striker and he’s made a really strong impression.
"In terms of the expectations, Walsall were hoping they’d be able to make another push for the play-offs. The start to the season has maybe even increased those expectations.
"It’s still early doors but it’s definitely a platform for them to push as hard as possible now."