George Bennett previews Walsall's EFL Trophy clash as they prepare to head to Peterborough in the third round of the competition.
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00:00Hi Sadler's fans, Walsall will be back in action this evening when they travel to League One outfit Peterborough United as attentions turn to the EFL trophy in the round of 16 and Walsall have reached this stage of the competition for the first time since famously reaching the final under Dean Smith in 2015.
00:27So Walsall will be looking to take a step closer to Wembley tonight and will be buoyed by setting that club record run of eight consecutive league wins after their 5-1 rout against Tramlia Rovers at Bescott on Saturday and that extended their lead at the summit to 12 points.
00:55The EFL trophy has also provided many players on the fringes with opportunities to shine and Sam Hornby has quite literally seized that opportunity with both hands.
01:11He saved two penalties after a series of top stops in normal time to gain an extra point in the shootout during Walsall's thrilling opener against Birmingham City at St Andrews.
01:24He then saved a late penalty in the 1-0 win over Fulham under-21s, kept a clean sheet in the 3-0 win against Shrewsbury and then emerged as a hero once again in the shootout with a trio of penalty saves as Walsall made it into the next round with victory over Reading.
01:47Danny Johnson, another one who has been without a league start in almost 12 months but the EFL trophy has given him an opportunity in this starting line-up and he's scored twice so far in the competition including a last cast equaliser in the previous round against Reading.
02:09So, it will be interesting what sort of line-up Matt Sadler goes for. I feel like Hornby will start between the sticks. Maybe there will be a few alterations around the defence. Ed and we are probably coming on the left-hand side of the back three with Donovan Daniels coming to the centre to give Harry Williams a rest.
02:30A possible opportunity for Rico Brown who was impressed in the previous two games in the competition. Elsewhere, like I said, Danny Johnson, probably Albert Adoma to lead the line and give Jamil Matt a rest in mid-week.
02:47So, plenty of scope for rotation but Sadler, as he said in his post-match press conference, will still be fielding a side which he feels is capable of winning the game but clearly the priority will be on promotion and the title charge in League Two.
03:05And Wolves also with a very strong track record this season against League One clubs. Just a one defeat which came in that 4-0 drubbing against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup second round but just a one defeat in seven games against third-tier opposition.
03:22Obviously, knocked Exeter City out on penalties, came from behind against Huddersfield Town with a 3-2 win in the League Cup. Even held Premier League side Leicester City to a goalless draw before bowing out on penalties.
03:39As I mentioned, the draw against Birmingham City, beating Shrewsbury and Reading. So, lots of examples there for Walsall to cling on to and gain confidence from heading into this game against a Peterborough side who lifted the trophy last season with a 2-1 win against Wickham at Wembley in April last year.
04:01But this season, surprisingly slogging it out at the bottom end of League One. Made the playoffs the previous two campaigns but missed out on promotion under Darren Ferguson who is in his fourth spell at the club. But a run of seven defeats in their last nine league games has left them in 20th place and just five points clear of the drop zone.
04:27So, nonetheless, a team in League One so an opportunity for Walsall to claim another scalp and try and continue the momentum on all fronts which has clearly helped in the league as well this season.