FGR are back at The Fully Charged New Lawn this Saturday to take on Walsall in League Two action.

Rob Edwards’ men welcome the West Midlands outfit in their last home game of the month before a run of three away games in a row.

Here’s all you need to know about the Saddlers.

MEET THE MANAGER: MICHAEL FLYNN

New Walsall manager Michael Flynn was unveiled as the new Saddlers boss earlier this week after the departure of Matt Taylor.

The Newport-born coach played for a host of clubs during his 19-year career but mainly resided with his hometown club, where he played over 100 games in four spells.

The former midfielder most notably played for Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town before he retired in 2017, as he began his shift into becoming Newport County’s permanent manager.

After four very successful years with the Exiles, Flynn resigned back in October 2021 leaving with lasting memories of FA Cup wins against Leicester City, Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Flynn will take charge of his first game as Walsall manager this weekend at The Fully Charged New Lawn.

KEY PLAYER: STEPHEN WARD

Irish international Stephen Ward joined the Saddlers on a one year deal in the summer after leaving League One Ipswich Town.

The full back began his career with Bohemians but first came onto the English football scene in 2007 with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he played 239 games.

After seven years at Molineux, Ward made the move North to Burnley where he spent five years playing in both the Premier League and Championship.

Year-long spells with Stoke City and Ipswich followed for the 36 year old before he decided to play League Two football for the first time in his career.

Ward has played 25 times in the league for Walsall this season notching two assists, one of which coming against FGR back in August.

FORM – WLLLL

25/01/22 – Walsall 1-2 Bradford City

29/01/22 – Bristol Rovers 1-0 Walsall

05/02/22 – Walsall 0-1 Northampton Town

08/02/22 – Scunthorpe United 1-0 Walsall

12/02/22 – Walsall 1-0 Tranmere Rovers

PLAYED FOR BOTH SIDES

Manny Monthe

The big centre-half left Tranmere Rovers to join Walsall in the summer after three years on the Wirral.

Monthe has made a total of 25 appearances for the Saddlers so far in both the league and various cup competition.

The 27 year old was a big part of FGR's promotion to the Football League in 2017 spending just over a year in GL6.

Isaiah Osbourne

Former FGR midfielder Isaiah Osbourne had two spells at Walsall either side of his one season in Nailsworth, where he played 38 times.

The former Aston Villa academy product played the most games of his career with the Saddlers in League One.

Osbourne left Walsall for Nuneaton Borough in 2019 and still plays his football there, in the seventh tier of English football.

Kane Wilson

Our swashbuckling full back is enjoying an unbelievable season in Nailsworth, leading the way in assists in League Two with 12.

The 21 year old scored his third of the season on Saturday helping Rovers to an important point away to Sutton United.

Kane spent the first half of the 2018/19 season on loan with Walsall making 20 appearances in all competitions.

LAST TIME OUT

Walsall picked up a crucial three points in their bid for survival as they beat promotion chasing Tranmere Rovers 1-0.

In their first game after the departure of manager Matt Taylor, the Saddlers were looing to break a run of seven defeats in a row.

Both sides had a couple of close chances to go ahead in the 90, but it wasn’t until five minutes from time that the home side had the all-important goal.

Conor Wilkinson won and fired home a penalty in front of the ecstatic home fans to send Walsall toward a first win in two months.

The win moved the Saddlers six points above the drop zone, whilst FGR’s nearest league rivals Tranmere now sit 11 points behind them in second place.

LAST TIME WE MET

Rovers ran out 2-0 winners against Walsall to qualify for the knockout stage of the Papa John’s Trophy back in November.

Matty Stevens finished brilliantly inside the first 15 minutes putting his side ahead in what was a must win game.

Rovers could have been two or three ahead in the first half, but an impressive performance from goalkeeper Jack Rose kept the Saddlers in the game.

George Miller came very close to drawing the home side level but his close rage effort rose just over the bar.

That proved costly as Jake Young’s curling effort settled things two minutes from time to set up a tie against Chelsea U21’s for FGR.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Rovers first met Walsall in 2019 drawing 1-1 after the Saddlers were relegated back to League Two for the first time since 2007.

The sides have faced each other a total of seven times, with Walsall having won three games compared to Rovers’ two.

Those two wins came at The Banks’s Stadium this season as Rovers won in both the league and Papa John’s Trophy.