Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Walsallvs.Leicester

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 September 2024, 13:46
Newly-promoted Premier League side Leicester City make the trip to the Bescot Stadium to face League Two Walsall in the EFL Cup third round on Tuesday.

Leicester's only win so far this season came in this competition against another League Two outfit, Tranmere Rovers, after claiming a third draw of the campaign at the weekend.

Match preview

Despite drawing at home to bottom-of-the-table Everton on Saturday, Leicester can still be content with coming away with a result given how the game went.

Everton led early on through Iliman Ndiaye, and had further first-half chances to add to the lead, but Leicester took control in the second period and Stephy Mavididi's leveller saw the spoils shared.

The Foxes are the first team to drop any points to Everton this season, but having entered the final 20 minutes still trailing, Steve Cooper will have been glad to take something.

It does suggest they will be in a relegation battle this season, even though they avoided a points deduction earlier this month, as they are still winless in five league games.

The EFL Cup represents an opportunity for them to get wins under their belt though, like they did in the last round when they made light work of Tranmere, winning 4-0.

The three-time winners have now reached the third round for the 10th season in succession, but it was at this stage where they were eliminated last season, going down to eventual winners Liverpool.

Leicester are now renowned for their recent Premier League and FA Cup successes, but it was in this competition where they enjoyed a brilliant few years towards the end of the last millennium, winning the trophy in 1997 and 2000, and reaching the final in 1999.

Walsall have nowhere near the same pedigree in the competition, but they are just one of four League Two sides to have made it this far.

It is just the second time in 22 years that Walsall have reached round three, and it has been strong form at the Bescot Stadium which has got them here, beating Exeter City and Huddersfield Town in the process.

Their only other third round appearance in over two decades also saw them drawn against Premier League opposition, when they were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Chelsea in 2015.

Leicester may not find it so easy though, as Walsall have won every game at home this season, and also claimed a 2-0 victory at Salford City at the weekend to move up into third.

Walsall EFL Cup form:

W

W

Walsall form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

W

W

Leicester City EFL Cup form:

W

Leicester City form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

D

D

Team News

Mat Sadler named an unchanged Walsall side for the trip to Salford at the weekend, and after claiming another victory, a similar XI could line up here.

With a promotion push looking possible though, Sadler may be tempted to rotate slightly given the strength he had in reserve at the weekend.

Among his substitutes was Rico Browne, who could be handed a debut here after joining the club last week, while the experienced former Ghana international Albert Adomah may also come into the side.

Cooper picked a more attacking lineup for the clash with Everton, moving Wilfred Ndidi further back and handing Bilal El Khannouss a full debut, and the setup could be similar here but with changes in personnel.

After being left out at the weekend, Oliver Skipp is likely to come back into the side, while attacking options Abdul Fatawu, Facundo Buonanotte, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Odsonne Edouard will all hope to start.

Jamie Vardy was left out entirely for the win over Tranmere and is unlikely to play again here, with Patson Daka also out injured in attack, so Jordan Ayew may move into a central role if he is chosen once again.

Manager Cooper appears to have a cup goalkeeper system active, so Danny Ward may replace Mads Hermansen, while full-backs Ricardo Pereira and Luke Thomas may also start having both not played a minute since round two.

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Hornby; Okagbue, Williams, Browne; Barrett, Maher, Stirk, Lakin, Gordon; Lowe, Adomah

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Ward; Ricardo Pereira, Faes, Okoli, Thomas; Skipp, Winks, Ndidi; Buonanotte, Edouard, Ayew

We say: Walsall 0-3 Leicester City

Leicester may be taking their time to readjust to the level of the Premier League, but their win in round two over Tranmere suggests they should have little trouble in seeing off another League Two side here.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United teenager Bendito Mantato has reportedly signed a new deal at Old Trafford until June 2029. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo, with Liverpool cooling their interest in the Cameroon international. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be aiming to make it eight wins from nine in all competitions when they make the trip to St Mary's to face already-relegated Southampton on Saturday afternoon. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Betis chief executive Ramon Alarcon has suggested that his club will find it difficult to sign Manchester United attacker Antony on a permanent basis during this summer's transfer window. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Bayern Munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger said Harry Kane must win a Champions League to be considered a club great. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool should release Trent Alexander-Arnold from his contract early, but only for the club's sake. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Miami have reportedly ended their pursuit of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth have reportedly made a verbal offer to sign Nantes defender Nathan Zeze this summer. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Fiorentina striker Moise Kean. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a fascinating precursor to next week's cup final, AC Milan and Bologna will clash in Serie A's Friday night kickoff, with the visitors needing maximum points at San Siro. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Round 35 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig kicks off with a clash between Fenerbahce, who are clinging to a slim title hope, and Istanbul Basaksehir, who remain in contention for a European place. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly received a boost in the race for Brentford attacker Bryan Mbuemo. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona centre-back Inigo Martinez will allegedly be fit for Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit condemned Real Madrid's classless behaviour against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ayr United are set to face Partick Thistle at Somerset Park on Friday evening in the second leg of their Scottish Championship playoff quarter-final. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Huddersfield have offered David Wagner their vacant manager's job, six years after the German left the club. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho has insisted that he is "happy" at Old Trafford amid suggestions that he could leave the 20-time English champions during the summer transfer window. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Ousmane Dembele deserves to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has ruled Matthijs de Ligt out of Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao, but the centre-back should return to action next week. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that the Red Devils "need" to keep hold of Bruno Fernandes this summer amid fresh speculation surrounding the attacker's future. 7 May 2025 talksport.com It's all on the line for Arsenal tonight as they face Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their huge Champions League semi-final. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Marco Silva is a leading candidate for the Al-Hilal vacancy with Fulham braced for an offer from the Saudi club. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed whether Marc Guiu will feature against Djurgardens IF on Thursday night. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two Serie A clubs have reportedly moved to the front of the queue to secure a summer deal for Liverpool attacker Federico Chiesa. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly planning on joining the race for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are allegedly giving consideration to making an approach for a Segunda Division player this summer. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Bruno Fernandes is indispensable to Manchester United. 7 May 2025 talksport.com The Champions League final will be decided tonight as Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain will join Inter Milan in the showpiece. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal can receive a huge financial boost by coming back to beat PSG and reaching the Champions League final. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Scott Sinclair was among eight players released by Bristol Rovers following their relegation to League Two.
Something went wrong! Don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help.