Game 37 - The Saddlers (A)
Team - Walsall
Date - 07/03/2026 15:00
Where - Bescot Stadium

What would your starting line-up be? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

I wonder if Jatta might be in the squad.

If not, it's Dennis up front. I don't have a problem with that, he can score. But what's MP going to try in the disastrous No.10 positions this week?

Walsall have only won 2 of their last 10 league matches with 4 draws & 4 defeats, earning just 10 points from a possible 30. Walsall currently stand in 11th place in League 2 on 53 points. Walsall have 1 win from their last 5 matches.

Notts on the other hand, have won 7 of their last 10 league matches with 1 draw & 2 defeats, earning 22 points from a possible 30. Notts currently stand in 5th place on 61 points. As a guide to current form, Notts have 2 wins in their last 5 matches.

Notts will be hoping that Matt Palmer, Ollie Norburn, & Alassana Jatta will be close to being considered for selection. Notts have stalled somewhat since those 3 players become unavailable due to injury. Lee Ndlovu is unavailable as he is serving a 3 match suspension for a straight red card against Grimsby.

Since their return to League 2, Notts have beaten Walsall only once in 5 league matches played, with 1 draw & 3 defeats.

The overall stats & recent Notts form tell us that it's going to be another tough match & Notts are going to have to play at their best to have a chance of getting a positive result on Saturday.

As we can see, Notts don't have a good record against Walsall since they returned to League 2, but I think that Notts can reverse that poor trend on Saturday. It all depends whether some of the injured players will return. Hopefully we will see Norburn back because he's been in great form prior to his injury, & we need Jatta back too.

Walsall are lacking confidence & Notts need to take advantage of that. I think it will be another cagey affair, with the odd goal separating the sides.The key areas for me will be the Notts defence, midfield with both having to stay strong for the whole match, & the players upfront taking their chances when they get the opportunity.The substitutes, when they come on, will have a big part to play too.

In spite of Notts recent record against Walsall, & their dissapointing form in recent matches, I'm confident that Notts can get a positive result on Saturday. A draw would be acceptable, but a win would be welcome. It may be that Notts will have to get a smash & grab win once again.

9 hours ago, Robbie said:

Walsall are lacking confidence & Notts need to take advantage of that.

Yes @Robbie, the Walsall side of this is interesting. They've gone from top to 11th - much the same happened last season. When that happens in consecutive seasons, I think it says something about the club, its methods and its ethos.

Belief will be low as you say but how much fight do they have? Are they demoralised and are their fans on their backs?

Last Saturday, they won at Shrewsbury where we just lost. So I think you're right - it's going to be a close one with the odd goal in it.

Edited March 6Mar 6 by theAnticlough

I have to agree with @theAnticlough the sight of Jatta on the teamsheet and possibly Palmer would be such an uplifting sight and a fright to the opposition. The icing on the cake for me would be Norburn being available, either to start or on the bench. He has played a significant part in everything football until injury sidelined him.

Yes @Robbie the trio mentioned above have had a massive influence for us and we have stuttered without their presence. Keep things tight at the back, fluid through the middle, good use of our flanks and producing first class finishing will do the job on Saturday. Another contender for me would be Macdonald, as he was playing sublime football and looked our best defender before he was injured. All in all plenty to look forward to, and some great performances to be had. COYP

Yes @Michael D Pie. McDonald has hit levels as good as anyone this season. He's kind of a wasted asset now. I'm sure he's got a role to play this season. It's tough though, Platt has been superb too over the last 10 games.

One day, it might be worth surprising a team with a 4-1-4-1, or 4-2-3-1 as Macari-Platt-McDonald-Bedeau makes one hell of a back 4

Listened to the Martin Paterson pre Walsall presser. He wasn't very forthcoming about the fitness situation regarding Norburn, Palmer or Jatta.

He talked about not letting the opposition know about their progress & wanting the opposition to basically keep guessing.about what side Notts will be putting out on Saturday.

He also confirmed that Ndlovu will have to serve his three match ban after Notts's appeal to the EFL failed. Martin also talked about players taking the opportunity when selected for the first team.

My guess is that we may see a couple of those previously injured players return.. possiblity Norburn to the starting eleven & Palmer on the bench.

It would be a welcome boost to the squad to see Alassana Jatta back, but if he is ready I hope we see him return to good form and work hard. He's been a bit patchy in spells, and his goals often overshadow this fact, but provided he scores goals that is the main thing. I think to some extent it does with other strikers, our favourite players of some fans.

The game is very crucial that we don't drop points, I don't think it will prove to be as forgiving as the Grimsby home game.

Winning matches at this stage of the season is such a vital thing, and I think realistically all we need is 4 wins to secure the playoffs, if we say 73 is enough which I think it would be or 75. We'd have to win 8 or 9 to stay in an automatic fight, which makes me hopeful we don't take our feet off the gas and just settle for the playoffs. It puts a lot of focus on rebounding from the home defeat, and pressure to get back to winning ways, but I don't think its always a bad thing.

Walsall aren't the same team as last season, but are a good squad. Now for us is a decent time to be playing them, despite the media. We have a talented squad capable of supporting Matthew Dennis creatively, even in Jatta's absence. The main thing is to make sure we finish our chances, and don't fall asleep at the back. Squad wise, I don't think much needs changing but I would hope Martin Paterson thinks carefully about when to make changes.

He's done well, and I do prefer his changes over Stuart Maynard, but insisting on bring two fresh legs out wide and a CB who plays behind one of them just seems risky when the game is so tight. Walsall never makes the Bascot Stadium an easy place to get points.

Fingers crossed for a win today, I hope some of the injured players will be back if not in the starting line up at least on the bench, it would be a real boost to the squad. COME ON YOU PIES!

ITS MATCHDAY!!

Notts team to face Walsall.

Norburn back.

No Robertson, new injury?

I hope Iorpenda is deep and Hall further forward, but recently it's been Hall and Tangen there.

Big game for Hall today. You'd imagine he'll be really motivated to rediscover some form and show what he can do

In the two early kick offs Grimsby drew 1-1 with Bromley & Salford beat Barnet 2-0.

These two results makes it imperative that Notts get a win today.

48 minutes ago, theAnticlough said:

No Robertson, new injury?

I hope Iorpenda is deep and Hall further forward, but recently it's been Hall and Tangen there.

Big game for Hall today. You'd imagine he'll be really motivated to rediscover some form and show what he can do

Robertson & Palmer not being on the bench is a concern.

Match is underway

Have Notts won a duel yet?

(45+1) Goal to Walsall.

Walsall 1 Notts 0.

We don't look like a promotion side on the first half showing.

Behind at break.

Nobody's playing well, with the possible exception of Platt.

The midfield isn't working, nobody seems comfortable. I wouldn't be surprised if MP changed this area at HT

Let's have Iorpenda driving things from further back. Tangen on for Hall, maybe. Macari and Bedeau to take more risks going forward.

That sequence when Norburn took a free-kick in a promising area and it ended up with Belshaw should never happen - pathetic.

Back to it. No changes.

Update

Substitutions for Notts.

Update

Kouhyar replaces Tsaroulla.

GOOOOOAAAAAL NORBURN

79 - GOAL! Jones' corner is cleared out to Norburn, who chests the ball down and rockets it into the top corner from 20 yards!

GOOOOOAAAAAL JONES.

Oh my goodness. What a smash and grab raid that was.

Final score.

Walsall 1 Notts 2

That’s a tremendous win - great result, not a bad day after all. Gordon gets 98th min equaliser for Crawley v Swindon & Cambs held to a draw.

Great, great spirit to win that.

Well done to all subs, and to MP for inspiring them.

Important win to take advantage of many play-off contenders slipping up today, and to keep pace with the top teams looking at autos. And we're still one of them!