Walsall vs Doncaster Rovers: Saddlers set sights on more festive joy on Boxing Day

The Saddlers strengthened their grip on top spot by stretching their lead over second-place Port Vale to six points with a 2-0 success at Harrogate Town on Saturday. 

Mat Sadler's men, who also boast a game in hand over Vale, have gone almost three months without tasting defeat in League Two - a run stretching 11 games in total. 

And their superb form this season guaranteed that Walsall spent Christmas at the summit for the first time since their famous League Two title winning campaign under Richard Money in 2006. 

The challenge for them now will be to maintain their promotion charge and maximum points over their direct rivals will only strengthen their lofty position. 

No team has taken more points on home soil than Walsall in League Two this term. They've registered 23 points from a possible 30 at Bescot so far - collecting seven wins in the process. 

In fact, Walsall have won 16 of their last 23 home fixtures in the league since the start of December last year (drawing four, losing three). 

It's also been four years since Walsall last suffered defeat on Boxing Day with them emerging victorious in each of the last three years. 

Tommy Simkin kept his third straight clean sheet at Harrogate to extend his season tally to nine and move level with AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Owen Goodman in the race for the League Two golden glove. 

The 20-year-old became the first Saddlers shot-stopper to register four consecutive league clean sheets on the road in 31 years with his latest shutout. 

Now, the England under-20 international will be setting his sights on securing Walsall's fourth league clean sheet on the spin for the first time since 2014. 

His Stoke City colleague Nathan Lowe also moved into double figures for the campaign in League Two with his stunning strike from distance over the weekend. 

Lowe is just one goal shy of leading scorers Michael Cheek and Matty Stevens (both on 11) in the race for the golden boot and has been directly involved in 19 goals across all competitions (13 goals, six assists) - more than any player across the three divisions in the EFL. 

37-year-old Albert Adomah also marked his first league start for the club with his third goal of the season, although Jamille Matt will be eligible again after serving his one-match suspension. 

George Hall won't be available due to a hamstring injury which is set to keep him out for at least six to eight weeks. Brandon Comley, who has been absent since fracturing his cheekbone in late November, remains a doubt although Sadler is hopeful he could be in contention over the coming games. 

Josh Gordon (hamstring) is still not expected back until mid-January while Priestley Farquharson's recent setback in his recovery from a long-term thigh injury is likely to keep him out until March.