Walsall will face Bristol City in the first round of the Carabao Cup. The draw sets up an exciting match for the Saddlers, who are looking to make a strong start under new head coach Lee Grant.
What happened?
The Carabao Cup first round draw has been completed, with Walsall set to travel to Championship outfit Bristol City. The first round ties are scheduled to be played over the weekend of August 7-9, kicking off the new season for Walsall.
Why it matters for Walsall
Walsall will be looking to improve on last season's performance, where they bowed out in the first round after losing on penalties to Stoke City. They did reach the third round in the 2024-25 season under Mat Sadler, before losing to Leicester City on spot-kicks.
What comes next?
The match against Bristol City will be a tough test for Walsall, but they will be aiming to cause an upset and progress to the next round. | Stat | Value | | League standing | 13th in League Two | | Points | 65 | | Recent form | LLWLL | | Goals scored | 56 | | Goals conceded | 56 | | Title race | 22 points behind leaders Bromley | | Last result | Bromley 3-1 Walsall (2026-05-02) |
And with the new season just around the corner, Walsall will be looking to make a strong start and build on last season's performance. But they will face a tough challenge against Bristol City, who will be looking to make a deep run in the competition. So, the stage is set for an exciting match, with Walsall aiming to cause an upset and progress to the next round.
