Walsall's League Two opener against Gillingham is set to be a tough test for the home side, with the visitors' manager Gareth Ainsworth hoping his team will benefit from their Carabao Cup defeat.
What happened?
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth hopes his players will benefit from their Carabao Cup defeat by League 1 Luton, which will give them a kick up the backside ahead of their League 2 opener against Walsall this Saturday.
Why it matters for Walsall
The match will be a challenging test for Walsall, who are looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to Bromley in their last outing. Walsall are currently 22 points behind leaders Bromley in the league table, with a goal difference of 0.
What comes next?
Walsall will be looking to get back to winning ways, but they face a tough task against Gillingham, who are looking to build on their Carabao Cup defeat. The match will be a great opportunity for Walsall to test their mettle against a strong opponent.
Walsall's recent form has been a concern, with the team losing their last three matches. However, they have shown signs of improvement in their pre-season games, and manager Gavin Strachan will be hoping to see his team build on that momentum.
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth knows that his team will lack possession against Walsall, but he wants to make sure they don't sit back and soak things up. He hopes that the quality of their opponents will help focus minds among his players.
Walsall's next fixture is against Accrington ST at home on August 29, and they will be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing start to the season. The match against Gillingham will be a great opportunity for Walsall to test their mettle against a strong opponent and get back to winning ways.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 13th in England League Two, 65 pts, 18W-11D-17L from 46 games, recent form LLWLL. Goals this season: 56 scored, 56 conceded (0 goal difference). Title race: 22 points behind leaders Bromley. Last result: Bromley 3-1 Walsall (2026-05-02). Recent form (last 5): 1W-0D-4L (LLLWL, most recent first); lost the last 3. Next fixture: vs Accrington ST (at home, 2026-08-29) (16th in the table).
