Inside Walsall's rollercoaster 2024-25 League Two campaign
Walsall started the season with a routine 1-0 victory over Morecambe at Bescot. It was hardly a prelude to the chaotic season which would eventually unfold.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
By the end of September, Walsall had collected six wins from eight games, including memorable 4-0 routs over Swindon Town and Colchester United respectively.
They had emerged as surprise early frontrunners, but a bizarre 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Fleetwood Town threatened to knock them off their stride.
Instead, Walsall embarked on a remarkable 16-match unbeaten run in League Two. Mat Sadler had also replicated their glistening form in cup competitions: beating third-tier opponents Exeter City and Huddersfield Town to reach the League Cup third round for the first time in nine seasons.
Walsall would only fall to defeat on penalties against Premier League side Leicester City after a hard-fought goalless draw under the lights at Bescot.
Sam Hornby also produced a pair of penalty saves to gain an extra point at Birmingham City after a pulsating 1-1 draw at St Andrew's in the EFL Trophy.
They would go onto beat Fulham under-21s 1-0 courtesy of a Danny Johnson strike and local rivals Shrewsbury Town 3-0, before eventually bowing out in the Round of 16.
The FA Cup was less successful although Jamie Jellis did notch a stoppage time winner in a 2-1 success over Bolton Wanderers in the first round.
Charlton Athletic condemned them to a 4-0 defeat in the second round but that merely allowed them to focus on the league ahead of a series of top end tussles during the winter.
