Just four away wins for
#BCFC
in the Championship this season, but didn’t stop the travelling fans coming in big numbers again.
Bowyer: “We’re grateful to them to come and support us in the way they did again today, they are always excellent.”
Blown away by the transformation of the Alexander Stadium on my visits these past few days.
For me, it’s helped
#Birmingham
go from great city to world-class major events destination.
🎥 2017 vs 2022 👇
Last
#Saddlers
player off the field is Jack Earing, who got the show on the road with a magnificent goal.
Brilliant performance, really enjoyed that from Walsall tonight.
Stick that in your documentary.
Teams in England’s top 4 divisions, which have lost fewer league games than
#Saddlers
so far this season:
🔴 Liverpool
🔷 Manchester City
🍒 Bournemouth
That’s your lot.
#Saddlers
up to 8️⃣th in the table with their 4️⃣th win in a row, now 9️⃣ unbeaten.
Monthé’s 1st goal in his 64th appearance to spark delirium.
Oh what fun it is to see Walsall win away - this lot aren’t going anywhere for a while…
Was editing the
#Saddlers
’ six-goal thriller back at WM HQ this afternoon… do you think co-commentator Rod McDonald was happy when the equaliser went in?
#UTS
Courtesy of the excellent
@BillEdgarTimes
,
#wwfc
the first team for 24 years from the second tier to keep five clean sheets from opening five domestic cup games.
Bravo
@WilllNorris
!
#Wolves
The Scunny success was my final
#Saddlers
game of the strangest of seasons.
Loved bringing the action to new UK listeners (who’d understandably have rather been there) and the loyal global
@WFCOfficial
fanbase.
Thank you to the superb co-commentary companions ⬇️.
Over and out.
A 6️⃣th away win of the season,
#Saddlers
up into the top half!!!
The 💯% winning record in 2020 continues... and a journey well made by this lot, all 1,300 of them....
On this day in 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣6️⃣,
@WFCOfficial
signed Erhun Oztumer.
It’s basically just an excuse to post these goals...
(Find me two better strikes by the same player in the same game... go on, I dare you)
#Saddlers
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Wow!!! Reliably involved that the players in the picture below are responsible for becoming the first
#Walsall
side to score 6️⃣ in the league on the road for 76 years!!!
Ruthless… relentless… A rather extraordinary start to the new calendar year!
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
We’ve got Douglas James-Taylor’s mum - a sprinter for England - to thank for that burst of speed which got the
#Saddlers
the equaliser.
What an afternoon for the Walsall striker!
🔠 Great to see the
#Saddlers
’ recent winning run hasn’t gone unnoticed by Countdown’s resident mathematician, who had this message of support on yesterday’s show ahead of tonight’s Accrington Stanley clash.
#UTS
#DeadlineDay
at the
#Saddlers
and I’m on childcare duty. Both, essentially, carry the same motto:
Get to the evening without losing anybody, and it’s been a good day.
Today feels like it’ll go down as a huge day in the
#Saddlers
’ 23/24 preparations
✔️ Experienced assistant appointed
✔️ Young striker with heaps of potential rejoins
✔️ Walsall’s superstar DJ is back to add to his formidable L2 goals-per-game ratio
Has it calmed a few nerves?
🎬Quite the story, gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me
⚽️ Long-serving cast member heroically returns after year off set
🐲 Plot twist: baddie scores, boooo
⚽️ Leading man makes happy ending a reality
⚽️ Hometown hero - often a supporting act this season - caps thrilling climax
#Saddlers
Back in the
#Saddlers
press box for the first time in a month, following a new addition to Team Marlow.
Co-commentator extraordinaire
@Heslop96
may be doing a lot of heavy lifting, as I’ve not slept for weeks.
Updates for
@DazHaleWM
on BBC Radio WM, live on iFollow
@WFCOfficial
🎊A brilliant away day for
#Saddlers
& the travelling 650 fans
✅3 wins in a row
🧱1st away clean sheet of season
⚽️L Gordon’s 3rd Walsall goal (2 v Harrogate!)
⚽️Mo Faal scores Walsall’s 50th league goal of the season
🎂Great early birthday present for Sadler (39 on Mon)
🧱 Heroic at one end all season, unexpected late match winner this afternoon at the other for a first Walsall goal.
“It felt good. It was a long time coming. As a group, we’re all buzzing to get the three points. That’s what matters.”
#Saddlers
’ Man(ny) of the moment.
🎉 2023 kicks off with a breathtaking
#Saddlers
win!
And, for his 4th strike in 236 Walsall games, a header from surely one of the smallest players,
@kins1996
to win it!
He, Monthé & Knowles were outstanding today.
✅ 2 places & points from the play-offs, exciting year ahead?
Nice moment just now as Wycombe’s Jason McCarthy came over to applaud
#Saddlers
fans at the end of the warm up.
McCarthy didn’t miss a game for Walsall in the 2016-17 season, playing 52 times, scoring five.
#FACup
#Saddlers
have been backed by some 1️⃣1️⃣,9️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ fans on the road in L2 this season.
Given there’ve only been 3 away wins and we’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis, that’s a phenomenal effort.
Mat Sadler: “(They’re) committed, loyal and respected - they are the lifeblood”
#Saddlers
’ first 🔟 goals this season
7️⃣ Johnson
1️⃣ Comley
1️⃣ own goal
1️⃣ Abraham
Saddlers’ most recent 🔟
2️⃣ Johnson
2️⃣ James-Taylor
1️⃣ White
1️⃣ Williams
1️⃣ Knowles
1️⃣ own goal
1️⃣ Monthé
1️⃣ Kinsella
Sharing the goals around recently with some unexpected goalscoring heroes!
Yesterday marked the halfway point of
#Saddlers
’ L2 season. It’s the best first half of a campaign for points gained since 2015/16’s promotion chasers:
15/16 (L1): 48 pts
16/17 (L1): 30
17/18 (L1): 30
18/19 (L1): 31
19/20 (L2): 27
20/21 (L2): 31
21/22 (L2): 29
22/23 (L2): 3️⃣6️⃣
🎙 “I’ve never felt better, it’s a dream come true, I’ve dreamt of this moment ever since I was a kid.”
“That first one... I couldn’t explain the feeling I had.”
What an afternoon for
@jake_scrimshaw
- a 2️⃣-goal hero, who said he had a feeling he’d score today!
#Saddlers
“The football club’s been around for 130 years, we’ve no intention of letting coronavirus end that.”
#Saddlers
fans - if you missed Leigh Pomlett’s interview with
@bbcwm
’s
@Samanthameah
this morning, you can listen back here:
(from 1:08:00)
#bbcefl
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️What an afternoon at Bescot!
✅ 1st 4️⃣-goal display since opening day of last season
✅ 1st hat-trick from a
#Saddlers
player since Johnson v Hartlepool
✅ 1st hat-trick of Hutchinson’s career, who doubles his tally for the season from 3 to 6
Is that the real
#Saddlers
?
My head’s STILL spinning after that 2nd half!
A quadruple substitution; Boris’s announcement;
@jake_scrimshaw
’s 1st goals;
@D_Scarr
’s brace (1st centre half to get 2️⃣ since Guthrie v Pompey); 4️⃣ in a half for
#Saddlers
(1st time in league since April 2015)!
Time for a lie down!
#Saddlers
managed the end of that game with 10 men superbly.
✅ First NYD win since 2-1 v Sheff U in 2014
✅ First win v Orient since Aug 2011
✅
@Josh_Gordonn
now on 7️⃣, joint top scorer with Lavery
✅ 13th clean sheet
✅ 💯% winning record in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣(!)
Happy New Year!
As well as these numbers, the thing which has impressed me most about Hutch since joining in summer 2022 is that he’s been involved in EVERY
#Saddlers
match day squad.
🏥🤕No injuries
🟡🔴 No suspensions
Isaac Hutchinson’s stats so far this season (in the league) 📈
3️⃣1️⃣ games (28 starts)
1️⃣0️⃣ goals
6️⃣ assists
He has been involved with 35% of Walsall’s league goals this season.
Some quality numbers there from Hutch and is a key player for the Saddlers 🔥
Wow, where do you start with that one...
4️⃣ league wins in a row for first time since August 2015
🏠 Back to back home wins within the same season for first time since January
Incredible resilience and belief from the
#Saddlers
to bounce back from 0-2 & 2-3, what a 2nd half!
Lovely moment as
@Iandennisbbc
and I prepared to interview Steve Bruce in the mixed zone...
Prince William came up to the
#AVFC
manager to congratulate him on a fine three points, accompanied by his guest John Carew.
✅ Bicycle kick ⚽️
✅ Swivel and shot for last-minute winner ⚽️
✅ 30+ yard rocket ⚽️
✅ Cheeky flick ⚽️
Dear other EFL clubs, I bet your centre halves can’t do this?
(Footage from
@WFCOfficial
YouTube channel)
#Saddlers
#Saddlers
home league games v Bolton since the reign of Queen Victoria:
1899: 2-2🤝
1972: 1-1 🤝
1972: 3-2✅
1984: 1-0✅
1985: 1-0✅
1985: 2-0✅
1986: 3-3🤝
1990: 2-1✅
2000: 2-0✅
2016: 1-0✅
2020: 2-1✅
Dominant. (I couldn’t tweet it before 3pm for fear of being called a jinx)
A solid point on the road from the
#Saddlers
, who had chances to nick it in the second half:
5️⃣ unbeaten in all competitions
3️⃣ clean sheets in a row
6️⃣ points off the top 7
1️⃣8️⃣5️⃣ miles to get home!!
Tried my hand at a bit of voice-overing to welcome two smart new
#Saddlers
kits.
Strap yourself in for nostalgic, poetic nods to the 1980s.
And if you’ve been waiting all this time for someone to rhyme
@D_Scarr
with the word “afar”, well you’re finally in luck...
✔️
#Saddlers
into
#FACup
R2 for 4th time in 5 seasons
✔️ 1st win v team from higher division since 2016 (v Brentford)
✔️ 1st away win in 9 games
✔️ Flynn still hasn’t lost a R1 tie as manager (Newport 3W, Walsall 1W).
He - and the 520 fantastic travelling fans - enjoyed that!
15 years ago to the day when I found out if trying to win 💷 on a Channel 5 game show with
@alexlovelltv
instead of finding a summer job would pay off...
This part-narcissistic, part-very embarrassing homemade montage reveals all... ⬇️
No
#FACup
third round action for the
#Saddlers
, but there was on this very day 5️⃣ years ago against a former manager...
(And, unless I’m mistaken, do I spot
@VitalWalsall
in the crowd celebrating Sam’s super strike?)
#UTS
📰 FREDDIE STAR
At the start of the season at Ewood Park, I’ll never forget Mat Sadler saying off-air to
@gbennett1997
and me something along the lines of…
“I can’t wait to unleash Freddie and for you to see him”
I can see why!
#Saddlers
My word. Three experienced League Two signings in key positions in the space of four days.
I wouldn’t have expected that in - yes, I’m going there - a Monthé of Sundays.
#Saddlers
Delighted to be accompanied by former Harrogate &
#Saddlers
striker Andy Watson, who won promotion with Walsall in 1999, on commentary.
Join us just before 3 for live coverage, with updates for FM listeners into the
#WBA
game.
📻
@bbcwm
DAB Black Country
📺📻iFollow
@WFCOfficial
#Saddlers
’ unbeaten start to the season goes on - a first league win on the road since early March...
Keates’ side score the 1st league goals against the Dons this campaign and inflict the 1st defeat on Neal Ardley’s men in 12 games.
When can we start getting excited?(!)
#UTS
Just found a video on my phone from the last time
#Saddlers
started a league season on the road.
I reckon the away end at Tranmere will be even noisier than the brilliant atmosphere created by 1,400+ at Northampton on this week two years ago.
@WFCOfficial
🔴⚪️🟢
The last time
#Saddlers
won at Shrewsbury’s New Meadow on a Saturday afternoon, Southend and Plymouth both lost.
In the words of EMF feat. Reeves & Mortimer, I’m A Believer.
#UTS
“I’m sure this club is going to go forward. It’s so great to see so many of you here. I’ve had a fantastic time with all of you. I love you.”
Ray Graydon on the pitch at half-time addressing
@WFCOfficial
fans alongside fellow
#Saddlers
legends Pedro Matias & Jorge Leitao.
#UTS
Tonight on the new series of Morecambe-based police drama The Bay, the team investigate how on earth the foul on Cameron Norman wasn’t given as a penalty.
That’s The Bay, 9pm on ITV.
#Saddlers
"I'm sick of it. Year on year. Our fans have been fantastic this year, they've supported this team through thick & thin" - Darren
"I've been a fan since the age of 4. This is killing me. The players have given us that" - Mike
#Saddlers
callers with
@dazhalewm
post-match.
I say. Impressed by this… and a permanent signing at left back!
A potential
#Saddlers
back 4 on the opening day of White-Monthé-Taylor-Ward would have 1100+ league appearances & 50 international caps between them.
Hopefully lots of clean sheets in 21/22 to add to those stats.
#Saddlers
2-0
#ftfc
:
✅ 7 points from 9
✅ Unbeaten in 3
✅ Back to back home wins for first time since Aug
✅ Back to back clean sheets for first time since Oct
✅ Ferrier’s 6th of season, all have been game’s opening strike
✅ Scarr’s 1st Walsall goal, his 1st since Dec 2017
Another entertaining
@WFCOfficial
home encounter!
6️⃣th home win of the season
1️⃣1️⃣ points from the last 5️⃣
3️⃣0️⃣ goals now scored by
#Saddlers
’ 3️⃣ strikers (Gordon 12,Lavery 10,Adebayo 8)
Most complete performance I’ve seen from the
#Saddlers
in a long time, really enjoyable game.
✅ 1st away win of the season
Now then, was that Wes goal better than his late Crawley strike in January?
5️⃣ away wins for
#Saddlers
in L2
4️⃣ points from two tough festive games
3️⃣ goals for McDonald in Dec
2️⃣ goals for Bates this season
...and a Partridge in a pear tree.
Safe journey home to the 264
@WFCOfficial
fans who travelled & thanks to those who joined us on iFollow.
#UTS
🎙️ Back on
#Saddlers
duty tomorrow…
If Walsall win at Forest Green, they’ll have already secured more points than in any other L2 campaign since relegation.
With TEN GAMES of the season still remaining.
19/20: 47pts (36 games)
20/21: 53
21/22: 54
22/23: 55
23/24: 54 (so far)
OK, so a Villa pre-season win at Walsall seems to have become a summer staple, but from a
#Saddlers
perspective…
🧤 Jack Rose pulled off some impressive stops in the first half
7️⃣ Kiernan was my pick of the outfield players
👏 So nice to see and hear fans again at the Banks’s
🗣 “They’ve set the standard, with team shape, discipline, work ethic…
“I said, in order to win today, we can’t be making mistakes because Forest Green are arguably the best League Two team I’ve seen in a good 10 years.”
#Saddlers
@sportbbcwm
This place celebrates its 28th birthday on Saturday, after opening with a friendly v
#AVFC
on 18 August 1990.
I’ll bring the balloons, just as long as
#Saddlers
bring home another 3 points v
#Gills
.
Last minute call-up to cover
#Saddlers
v
#Shrimps
tonight has meant I’m not quite as well versed in tonight’s visitors as normal.
You could say I’m Morecambe unwise.
Live on iFollow
@WFCOfficial
with updates on
@bbcwm
during the
#AVFC
semi-final.
🎤 “(I’m) full of pride for what they’ve achieved to get this far.
“I’ve got a lot of dejected boys in there but it’s important they hold their heads up high.”
@pdscontractflo2
reacts as
@halesowentownfc
’s outstanding
#FATrophy
run ends at the semi-final stage.
#UpTheYeltz
#Saddlers
’ home record against League 2’s current top 3 this season:
✅ Stockport 2-1
✅ Mansfield 2-1
✅ Wrexham 3-1
Unbeaten at Bescot against last season’s final top 3 too.
🎶 Can we play one of the top 3 every week? 🎶
🎙️ Who needs Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley??!!!
Live on
@bbcwm
DAB (Black Country) and iFollow
@WFCOfficial
shortly alongside Walsall Women’s
@laurenpearsonn
.
Join us and get involved!
✅ Back to back league wins for the
#Saddlers
for the first time in 13 months
✅ 1st home win for new boss Clarke
✅ All three victories by 1-0
✅ 5th clean sheet in 10, 6 in all comps
✅ 50% of James Clarke’s career goals have come for Walsall, and none better than that today!
Catching up after a long day…
Yes, hugely alarming run.
#Saddlers
were 22pts ahead of then bottom side Gills on NYD - they’re now level.
However I’m fed up of short termism in football. Would it have been so bad to give him a summer to rebuild with players wanting to be there?
📸 This man’s claiming his first
#Saddlers
goal today ⬇️
“I’m glad to have scored. It’s a weight off my shoulders. I’m happy for this moment and hopefully I can carry on this goalscoring run.”
FT:
#Saddlers
1-0 Crawley Town
A big performance from the boys as a single Mat Sadler goal is enough to give Darrell Clarke's side all three points at the Banks's Stadium
Fantastic result!!!
Five wins in a row at Vale Park...
Four away wins on the bounce in all competitions for the first time since September 2018...
And into the top half of League 2 for the first time since around Valentine's Day.... Love it ❤️
#Saddlers
On this very day in 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣5️⃣.... the international break.... and young midfielder
@kins1996
scored a debut goal to take
@WFCOfficial
to the top of the league.
A 2️⃣-0️⃣ would do very nicely today.
Mike Taylor & George Bowerman with the action from 3.
#Saddlers
I should think Crawley Town are pretty fed up of Walsall scoring exceptional goals against them...
@_JamesClarke_
’s cracker, and now
@WesMcDonald10
’s wizardry (or was it just a cross?(!!!))
Don’t even try and get me to pick my favourite.
1️⃣st win in 6
1️⃣st home victory in 2019
1️⃣0️⃣ men for 84 minutes
4️⃣ points from the drop zone
A heroic, brave, tireless, spirited, monumental effort. Massive win.
#Saddlers
Yesterday’s cup win at Tranmere was current captain
@georgedobson97
’s 50th
#Saddlers
appearance.
Couldn’t find similar treatment of his first goal at Fleetwood, so his other
#WalsallFC
strike will have to do...⬇️
It’s going to the final day.
#Saddlers
excellent today, three crucial goals, but a word for
@D_Scarr
’s MASSIVE, IMPECCABLE challenge (he was injured at the time too) on Matt Godden at 1-0 when through on goal. That was just as crucial.
Game on at Shrewsbury.
#UTS
Another very enjoyable Saturday afternoon’s viewing...
✅ Back to back wins for
@WFCOfficial
for first time since Jan
✅ 2️⃣ in 2️⃣ for
@EliSaint4
who is just one away from last season’s total
✅
#Saddlers
stay unbeaten at home against Bolton in the league (W8 D3 L0)
#UTS
Look at all those
#Saddlers
fans behind the goal to the right - outstanding turn out from 1️⃣3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣+
Join us on
@bbcwm
DAB in the Black Country and iFollow
@WFCOfficial
shortly....
Felt like the writing was on the wall when the Wycombe FA Cup team news came out without Liam’s name.
What a fine, fine player, great attitude on & off the pitch, looking forward to seeing his continued development, albeit from afar.
Cheers Cambridge, Tom’s crying.
#Saddlers
An entertaining 2️⃣-2️⃣, and some numbers about the
#Saddlers
’ front 2️⃣:
🔴 31% of
@EliSaint4
’s career league goals have come against
#PVFC
🔴
@Josh_Gordonn
is averaging better than a goal every 2 games since New Year’s Day (6 from 11)
New
@birminghamcg22
megastore open… fountains back flowing… 29 and a bit days to go…
I might actually get it into my head that we’re welcoming the world very very soon!
If you’d have told me when Forest Green were through on goal after ten seconds on Saturday that
#Saddlers
would have 2 wins and 6 more points by Tuesday night...
Lovely stuff.
FT:
#Saddlers
1-0
@TranmereRovers
A fantastic second half matched by a fantastic strike from
@EmanPaddyO
secures Brian Dutton's back-to-back wins at the Banks's Stadium!
GET IN THERE!!