Walsall’s pre-season preparations took a heavy blow as Aston Villa ran out 5-0 winners at the Bescot Stadium on Wednesday evening.
What happened in the Walsall vs Aston Villa friendly?
Villa dominated from the first whistle, with Madjo Hemmings and a host of youngsters leading the charge. The visitors opened the scoring early, and Hemmings doubled their lead before the break. The second half saw more Villa pressure, with further goals extending their lead to five. Walsall struggled to find rhythm, managing just a handful of chances in a one-sided contest.
How did Walsall’s players fare?
Hemmings was the standout performer for Walsall, bagging two goals and testing Villa’s defence repeatedly. The backline, however, looked shaky under sustained pressure, conceding five times. Midfield struggled to link up play, while the attack lacked cohesion. The performance offered little reassurance ahead of the new League Two campaign.
Why it matters for Walsall
With the season opener just weeks away, Walsall’s pre-season form has raised concerns. Their recent run of one win and four losses in the last five games-LLLLW, most recent first-shows a side in need of sharpness. The 0-5 loss to Bromley on 2 May 2026 underlined their struggles, and this heavy defeat does little to ease worries. The Saddlers sit 13th in League Two with 65 points from 46 games, 22 points adrift of Bromley, and need to tighten up defensively if they’re to improve on last season’s 56 goals conceded.
What comes next for Walsall?
The focus now shifts to squad reinforcements and tactical adjustments. Manager John Yems will hope the young talent shown in this game can translate into consistency. The next fixture looms large, and Walsall must regroup quickly-especially with their recent form LLWLL and a goal difference of zero after 46 games.
