2017–18 Walsall F.C. season explained

Club:	Walsall
Season:	2017–18
Manager:	Jon Whitney (Until 12 March 2018) Ian Sharps Caretaker (from 12 March 2018 till 16 March 2018) Dean Keates (from 16 March 2018)
Chairman:	Jeff Bonser
Stadium:	Bescot Stadium
League:	League One
League Result:	19th
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	First round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	First round
Cup3:	EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:	Second round
League Topscorer:	Erhun Oztumer (15)
Season Topscorer:	Erhun Oztumer (17)
Prevseason:	2016–17
Nextseason:	2018–19
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The 2017–18 season was Walsall's 130th season in their existence and their eleventh consecutive season in League One.^[1] Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and EFL Trophy.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Competitions

Friendlies

Pre-season match details

scope=col	Date	scope=col	Opponents	scope=col	Venue	scope=col	Result	scope=col	Score F–A	scope=col class=unsortable	Scorers	scope=col	Attendance	scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row		Kidderminster Harriers XI	H	W	2–0	Peters, Bakayoko	0	^[2]
scope=row		Solihull Moors	A	L	2–3		647	^[3]
scope=row		Aston Villa	H	D	0–0		7,022	^[4]
scope=row		Stafford Rangers	A	L	2–3	Candlin (2)	323	^[5]
scope=row		Chester	A	W	2–1	Leahy, Candlin	888	^[6]
scope=row		West Bromwich Albion	H	L	1–2	Bakayoko		^[7]
scope=row		Chasetown	A	W	5–1	Hayles-Docherty, Fisher, Candlin (3)		^[8]
scope=row		Lincoln City	A	L	1–2	Jackson	2,376	^[9]
scope=row		Rushall Olympic	A	D	2–2	Sangha, Peters		^[10]

League One

See main article: 2017–18 EFL League One.

League One match details

Date	League position	Opponents	Venue	Result	Score F–A	Scorers	Attendance	scope=col class=unsortable
		Bury	A	L	0–1		4,240	^[11]
		Oldham Athletic	H	W	2–1	Edwards, Oztumer	4,419	^[12]
		Portsmouth	A	D	1–1	Leahy	17,198	^[13]
		Bradford City	H	D	3–3	Leahy, T. Roberts, Bakayoko	4,817	^[14]
		Plymouth Argyle	H	W	2–1	Agyei, Oztumer	5,495	^[15]
		Bristol Rovers	A	L	1–2	Wilson	8,544	^[16]
		Rotherham United	A	L	1–5	Bakayoko	7,330	^[17]
		Peterborough United	H	D	1–1	Oztumer	4,453	^[18]
		Oxford United	A	W	2–1	Edwards, T. Roberts	6,895	^[19]
		Charlton Athletic	H	D	2–2	T. Roberts, Agyei	3,712	^[20]
		Wigan Athletic	A	L	0–2		8,107	^[21]
		Shrewsbury Town	H	D	1–1	Agyei	5,971	^[22]
		Blackpool	H	D	1–1	Oztumer	4,503	^[23]
		Milton Keynes Dons	A	D	1–1	T. Roberts (pen)	7,258	^[24]
		Doncaster Rovers	A	W	3–0	Oztumer (2), Morris	7,391	^[25]
		Southend United	H	L	0–1		4,145	^[26]
		Gillingham	H	L	0–1		4,917	^[27]
		Fleetwood Town	H	W	4–2	Oztumer, Ismail, T. Roberts, Agyei	3,225	^[28]
		AFC Wimbledon	A	W	2–1	Oztumer, Bakayoko	4,130	^[29]
		Scunthorpe United	H	W	1–0	Morris	3,865	^[30]
		Northampton Town	A	L	1–2	Oztumer	5,055	^[31]
		Rochdale	A	D	1–1	Kouhyar	2,702	^[32]
		Bristol Rovers	H	D	0–0		5,759	^[33]
		Rotherham United	H	L	1–2		4,685	^[34]
		Plymouth Argyle	A	L	0–1		10,432	^[35]
		Oxford United	H	W	2–1	Oztumer, Bakayoko	4,569	^[36]
		Charlton Athletic	A	L	1–3	Oztumer	10,140	^[37]
		Blackburn Rovers	A	L	1–3		11,241	^[38]
		Milton Keynes Dons	H	W	1–0	Ngoy	4,009	^[39]
		Blackpool	A	D	2–2	Edwards, Guthrie	3,404	^[40]
		Doncaster Rovers	H	W	4–2	Edwards (2), Morris, Bakayoko	3,514	^[41]
		Gillingham	A	D	0–0		4,682	^[42]
		Blackburn Rovers	H	L	1–2	Fitzwater	6,893	^[43]
		Peterborough United	A	L	1–2	Ngoy	2,531	^[44]
		Southend United	A	W	3–0	Oztumer (3)	6,413	^[45]
		Rochdale	H	L	0–3		3,505	^[46]
		Shrewsbury Town	A	L	0–2		7,633	^[47]
		Wigan Athletic	H	L	0–3		4,477	^[48]
		Portsmouth	H	L	0–1		5,159	^[49]
		Bury	H	W	1–0	Thompson (og)	3,807	^[50]
		Oldham Athleitc	A	D	1–1	Fitzwater	3,424	^[51]
		AFC Wimbledon	H	L	2–3	Fitzwater, Ngoy	4,663	^[52]
		Scunthorpe United	A	L	0–1		4,083	^[53]
		Northampton Town	H	W	1–0	Dobson	8,919	^[54]
		Bradford City	A	D	1–1	Oztumer	18,976	^[55]
		Fleetwood Town	A	L	0–2		3,644	^[56]

League table

FA Cup

See main article: 2017–18 FA Cup.

EFL Cup

See main article: 2017–18 EFL Cup.

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2017–18 EFL Trophy.

EFL Trophy match details

Round	Date	Opponents	Venue	Result	Score F–A	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
Northern Group E		West Bromwich Albion U21s	H	W	3–1	Flanagan, Ismail, Leahy	1,055	^[59]
Northern Group E		Coventry City	H	D	2–2	Ismail, Agyei	1,517	^[60]
Northern Group E		Shrewsbury Town	A	W	1–0	Bakayoko	1,701	^[61]
Second round		Bury	H	L	1–2	Oztumer	1,065	^[62]

Transfers

In

scope=col	Date	scope=col	Name	scope=col	From	scope=col	Fee	scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row			Ayr United	Free	^[63]
scope=row			Carlisle United	Free	^[64]
scope=row			Crewe Alexandra	Free	^[65]
scope=row			Falkirk	Free (released)	^[66]
scope=row			Sparta Rotterdam	Undisclosed	^[67]

Out

scope=col	Date	scope=col	Name	scope=col	To	scope=col	Fee	scope=col class=unsortable	Ref
scope=row			APOEL Nicosia	Undisclosed	^[68]
scope=row			Stafford Rangers	Released	^[69]
scope=row			Smethwick	Released
scope=row			Shrewsbury Town	Released	^[70]
scope=row			Unattached	Released
scope=row			Gillingham	Released	^[71]
scope=row			Forest Green Rovers	Released	^[72]
scope=row			Gateshead	Released	^[73]
scope=row			Cardiff City	Rejected new contract	^[74]
scope=row			Swindon Town	Rejected new contract	^[75] ^[76]
scope=row			Kidderminster Harriers	Contract terminated by mutual consent	^[77] ^[78]
scope=row			Unattached	Released	^[79]
scope=row			Unattached	Released

Loan in

scope=col	Date	scope=col	Name	scope=col	From	scope=col	End date	scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row			Sheffield United		^[80]
scope=row			West Bromwich Albion		^[81]
scope=row			West Bromwich Albion		^[82]
scope=row			Burnley		^[83]
scope=row			Bury
scope=row			Brentford		^[84]
scope=row			Arsenal		^[85]
scope=row			West Bromwich Albion
scope=row			Stoke City

Loan out

scope=col	Date	scope=col	Name	scope=col	To	scope=col	End date	scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row			Leamington		^[86]
scope=row			Rushall Olympic		^[87] ^[88]
scope=row			Rushall Olympic		^[89]
scope=row			Grimsby Town		^[90]
scope=row			Leamington

Squad statistics

Source:^{[91] [92]}

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.

Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.

Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Walsall.

Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
				League		FA Cup		EFL Cup		EFL Trophy		Total		Discipline
1	GK			23	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	25	0	1	0
2	MF				7	1	0	1	0		0		7	5	0
3	DF			46	2	1	0	1	0	4	1	52	3	4	0
4	MF				1	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	3	0
5	DF			46	1	1	0	1	0	4	0	52	1	4	0
6	DF				0	0	0	1	0		0		0	3	0
7	MF			43	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	47	0	8	0
8	MF				0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
9	FW				0	0	0		0		0		0	0	0
10	MF				15	1	0	1	1		1		17	3	0
11	MF				3	1	0	1	0	4	0		3	1	0
13	GK				0	0	0	0	0	4	0		0	0	0
14	DF		*	19	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	20	1	5	0
15	MF				0	1	0	1	0	3	0		0	2	0
16	FW		*		0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
17	MF				0	0	0	0	0		1		1	1	0
18	FW		*		5	1	0	0	0	1	0		5	1	0
18	FW	Belgium	*		3	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	1	0
19	MF		*		1	1	0	0	0	3	2		3	2	0
20	FW				5		1	1	1		1		8	8	1
22	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0		0		0	0	0
23	DF		*		0	1	0	0	0	0	0		0	1	0
23	DF		*	16	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	3	2	0
24	DF				0	0	0	1	0	3	0		0	1	0
25	MF				1		0		0	4	0		1	0	0
26	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
27	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	DF				0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
29	MF				0	0	0	0	0		0		0	0	0
32	FW		*		4	0	0	0	0		1		5	2	0
33	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
34	DF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
35	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
36	FW				0	0	0	0	0		0		0	0	0
37	GK			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
38	FW			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

No.!scope="col"

Pos.	Nat.	Name
4	DF
14	DF	Poland	*
21	MF
30	FW
31	DF

Notes and References

1. News: History . Statto . 2017-05-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170313043715/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/walsall/history . 2017-03-13 . dead .
2. Web site: Friendly Result: Walsall 2-0 Kidderminster XI . Walsall F.C. . 8 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
3. Web site: Solihull Moors 3-2 Walsall . Walsall F.C. . 15 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
4. Web site: Walsall 0-0 Aston Villa . Walsall F.C. . 18 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
5. Web site: Stafford Rangers 3-2 Walsall . Walsall F.C. . 19 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
6. Web site: Match report: Chester 1-2 Walsall . Walsall F.C. . 22 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
7. Web site: Walsall 1-2 West Brom . Walsall F.C. . 26 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
8. Web site: Chasetown 1-5 Walsall . Walsall F.C. . 27 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
9. Web site: Lincoln City 2-1 Walsall . Walsall F.C. . 29 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
10. Web site: Rushall Olympic 2-2 Walsall . Walsall F.C. . 2 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
11. Web site: Bury 1–0 Walsall . BBC Sport . 5 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
12. Web site: Walsall 2–1 Oldham Athletic . BBC Sport . 12 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
13. Web site: Portsmouth 1–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 19 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
14. Web site: Walsall 3–3 Bradford City . BBC Sport . 26 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
15. Web site: Walsall 2–1 Plymouth Argyle . BBC Sport . 2 September 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
16. News: Bristol Rovers 2–1 Walsall. 10 September 2017. BBC Sport. 9 September 2017.
17. Web site: Rotherham United 5–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 12 September 2017 . 12 September 2017 .
18. Web site: Walsall 1–1 Peterborough United. BBC Sport. 16 September 2017. 16 September 2017 .
19. Web site: Oxford United 1–2 Walsall. BBC Sport. 23 September 2017. 24 September 2017 .
20. Web site: Walsall 2–2 Charlton Athletic . BBC Sport . 26 September 2017 . 26 September 2017 .
21. Web site: Wigan Athletic 2–0 Walsall . BBC Sport . 30 September 2017 . 3 October 2017 .
22. Web site: Walsall 1–1 Shrewsbury Town . BBC Sport . 7 October 2017 . 8 October 2017 .
23. Web site: Walsall 1–1 Blackpool . BBC Sport . 14 October 2017 . 16 October 2017 .
24. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 17 October 2017 . 18 October 2017 .
25. Web site: Doncaster Rovers 0–3 Walsall . BBC Sport . 21 October 2017. 22 October 2017 .
26. Web site: Walsall 0–1 Southend United . BBC Sport . 28 October 2017 . 30 October 2017 .
27. News: Walsall 0–1 Gillingham. 20 November 2017. BBC Sport. 18 November 2017.
28. News: Walsall 4–2 Fleetwood Town. 22 November 2017. BBC Sport. 21 November 2017.
29. News: AFC Wimbledon 1–2 Walsall . BBC Sport . 25 November 2017 . 28 November 2017.
30. News: Walsall 1-0 Scunthorpe United. 10 December 2017. BBC Sport. 9 December 2017.
31. News: Northampton Town 2–1 Walsall. 23 January 2018. BBC Sport. 16 December 2017.
32. Web site: Rochdale 1–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 23 December 2017 . 23 January 2018 .
33. Web site: Walsall 0–0 Bristol Rovers . BBC Sport . 26 December 2017 . 23 January 2018 .
34. Web site: Walsall 1–2 Rotherham United . BBC Sport . 30 December 2017 . 23 January 2018 .
35. Web site: Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Walsall . BBC Sport . 1 January 2018 . 23 January 2018 .
36. Web site: Walsall 2–1 Oxford United . BBC Sport . 13 January 2018 . 23 January 2018 .
37. Web site: Charlton Athletic 3–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 20 January 2018 . 23 January 2018 .
38. Web site: Blackburn Rovers 3–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 30 January 2018 . 1 February 2018 .
39. Web site: Walsall 1–0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 3 February 2018 . 5 February 2018 .
40. Web site: Blackpool 2–2 Walsall . BBC Sport . 10 February 2018 . 12 February 2018 .
41. Web site: Walsall 4–2 Doncaster Rovers . BBC Sport . 13 February 2018 . 14 February 2018 .
42. Web site: Gillingham 0–0 Walsall . BBC Sport . 17 February 2018 . 3 March 2018 .
43. Web site: Walsall 1–2 Blackburn Rovers . BBC Sport . 24 February 2018 . 3 March 2018 .
44. Web site: Peterborough United 2–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 27 February 2018 . 3 March 2018 .
45. Web site: Southend United 0–3 Walsall . BBC Sport . 3 March 2018 . 3 March 2018 .
46. Web site: Walsall 0–3 Rochdale . BBC Sport . 6 March 2018 . 25 March 2018 .
47. Web site: Shrewsbury Town 2–0 Walsall . BBC Sport . 10 March 2018 . 25 March 2018 .
48. Web site: Walsall 0–3 Wigan Athletic . BBC Sport . 21 March 2018 . 25 March 2018 .
49. Web site: Walsall 0–1 Portsmouth . BBC Sport . 31 March 2018 . 9 April 2018 .
50. Web site: Walsall 1–0 Bury . BBC Sport . 7 April 2018 . 9 April 2018 .
51. Web site: Oldham Athletic 1–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 11 April 2018 . 29 April 2018 .
52. Web site: Walsall 2–3 AFC Wimbledon . BBC Sport . 14 April 2018 . 29 April 2018 .
53. Web site: Scunthorpe United 1–0 Walsall . BBC Sport . 21 April 2018 . 29 April 2018 .
54. Web site: Walsall 1–0 Northampton Town . BBC Sport . 28 April 2018 . 29 April 2018 .
55. Web site: Bradford City 1–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 1 May 2018 . 6 May 2018 .
56. Web site: Fleetwood Town 2–0 Walsall . BBC Sport . 5 May 2018 . 6 May 2018 .
57. Web site: Newport County 2–1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 4 November 2017 . 4 November 2017 .
58. Web site: Sheffield United 3–2 Walsall . BBC Sport . 9 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
59. News: Walsall 3–1 West Bromwich Albion U21s. SkySports. 19 September 2017. 19 September 2017.
60. News: Walsall 2–2 Coventry City. SkySports. 3 October 2017. 9 October 2017.
61. News: Shrewsbury 0–1 Walsall. SkySports. 7 November 2017. 8 November 2017.
62. Web site: Walsall 1–2 Bury . SkySports . 2 December 2017 . 2 December 2017.
63. Web site: Nicky Devlin: Walsall sign Scottish right-back following Ayr United exit . BBC Sport . 26 June 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
64. Web site: Mark Gillespie: Walsall sign former Carlisle goalkeeper on two-year deal . BBC Sport . 23 June 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
65. Web site: Jon Guthrie: Walsall sign Crewe Alexandra defender on two-year deal . BBC Sport . 22 June 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
66. Web site: Luke Leahy: Walsall sign Falkirk left-back on a free transfer . BBC Sport . 14 June 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
67. Web site: George Dobson: Walsall re-sign ex-West Ham midfielder from Sparta Rotterdam . BBC Sport . 3 January 2018 . 23 January 2018 .
68. Web site: Andreas Makris: Walsall record signing departs after one season . BBC Sport . 13 June 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
69. Web site: Walsall: Jon Whitney releases seven players from League One club . BBC Sport . 4 May 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
70. Web site: Craig MacGillivray: Shrewsbury Town complete move for ex-Walsall goalkeeper . BBC Sport . 5 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
71. Web site: Franck Moussa: Gillingham hand deal to ex-Walsall midfielder . BBC Sport . 23 January 2018 . 23 January 2018.
72. Web site: Isaiah Osbourne: Forest Green sign midfielder until the end of the season . BBC Sport . 22 September 2017 . 22 September 2017.
73. Web site: Theo Vassell: Gateshead sign ex-Walsall defender on a one-year deal . BBC Sport . 14 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
74. Web site: Cardiff City sign Neil Etheridge and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing . BBC Sport . 30 May 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
75. Web site: Preston departs. 17 August 2017. Walsall F.C.. 14 August 2017.
76. Web site: Matt Preston: Swindon Town sign Walsall defender for rest of 2017-18 . BBC Sport . 25 September 2017 . 27 September 2017 .
77. Web site: Defender James O'Connor leaves Walsall. 31 August 2017. Walsall F.C.. 31 August 2017.
78. Web site: Jimmy O’Connor signs for Harriers . Kidderminster Harriers F.C. . 2 October 2017 . 3 October 2017 .
79. Web site: Sam Tonks and Rory Oliver Released . Walsall F.C. . 29 December 2017 . 23 January 2018 .
80. Web site: James Wilson: Walsall sign Sheffield United defender on season-long loan . BBC Sport . 17 July 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
81. Web site: Shaun Donnellan: Walsall sign West Brom player on six-month loan . BBC Sport . 11 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
82. Web site: Tyler Roberts: Walsall sign West Bromwich Albion forward on loan . BBC Sport . 25 August 2017 . 3 September 2017 .
83. Web site: Walsall: Burnley forward Daniel Agyei and Bury winger Zeli Ismail on loan . BBC Sport . 31 August 2017 . 1 September 2017 .
84. Web site: Justin Shaibu: Brentford striker joins Walsall on loan . BBC Sport . 29 January 2018 . 1 February 2018 .
85. Web site: Walsall sign Krystian Bielik, Jack Fitzwater and Julien Ngoy on loan . BBC Sport . 31 January 2018 . 1 February 2018 .
86. Web site: Milan Butterfield joins Leamington on loan. 9 August 2017. Walsall F.C.. 8 August 2017.
87. Web site: Young Saddlers midfielders head out on loan to Rushall Olympic . 25 October 2017 . Walsall F.C. . 20 October 2017.
88. News: Butterfield and Sangha loans extended. 7 December 2017. Walsall Official Site. 1 December 2017.
89. Web site: Sangha joins Leamington on loan . 25 March 2018. Walsall Official Site. 22 March 2018.
90. Web site: Simeon Jackson & Easah Suliman: Grimsby Town loans for Walsall and Aston Villa pair . BBC Sport . 31 January 2018 . 1 February 2018 .
91. Web site: Walsall. FootballSquads. 10 August 2017 .
92. Web site: Squad stats. Soccerbase. Centurycomm. 10 August 2017 .