Walsall go out of the Trophy at Leicester and now have no league game this Saturday
Wednesday 11 November 2026 · By Denis Thickett
Walsall’s midweek ended with an exit from a second cup competition in four days, and they now have a free Saturday as well. After going out of the FA Cup at Newport County last weekend, they lost 2–1 at League One Leicester City in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday and are out of that competition too.
Andy Dallas gave Walsall the lead on 10 minutes, his second goal in as many games. John Lundstram equalised on 20 minutes and Will Smallbone won it for Leicester on 32. Leicester held on and took the second qualifying place in the group. The details come from the Express & Star and Leicester’s official report. Sixteen-year-old first-year scholar Ryan Sjoerdsma made his second senior start, after a cup cameo at Newport, according to the Express & Star.
Lee Grant put the defeat in context. He told the Express & Star that the Trophy had “different goals” for the club and pointed to minutes for young players. “There were so many positives to take. I’m proud of the group and of course we’re disappointed that we’re out of the competition,” he said.
He added: “Tonight is much more the bigger picture for us.” Grant also said Leicester manager Russell Martin “commended” Sjoerdsma’s performance, which is Grant’s account of that conversation.
The league fixture list has changed too. Saturday’s home game against Barnet has been postponed because of international call-ups at Barnet. Walsall’s statement, reported by the Express & Star, says tickets already bought will stay valid for the rearranged date, which has not been announced.
There have been no League Two games since Tuesday 3 November, so Walsall’s position is unchanged. They are third on 22 points from 13 games, the last automatic promotion place. They are level on points with fourth-placed Crewe Alexandra but ahead on goal difference, plus nine against Crewe’s zero, and they have a game in hand. Their last six league games read drawn, drawn, drawn, won, lost, won.
No fresh injury bulletin was found after Tuesday’s game.
Walsall’s next league fixture is now a trip to York City, listed by BBC Sport for Saturday 21 November at 3pm. They are then listed at home to Northampton Town on Saturday 28 November.
Grant will take the positives he spoke about, especially the minutes for younger players, but the first-team picture is now about the league. The postponed Barnet game would have been second against third. Instead, Walsall have extra time to prepare for York, who sit seventh and host National League Carlisle United in the FA Cup second round next month.
The automatic promotion places are still in Walsall’s hands, and a result at York would keep them there. The rearranged home game against Barnet, whenever it is played, will still be one of the bigger nights of their season.
Bescot Stadium — currently branded Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium — has been home to Walsall Football Club since August 1990, when the Saddlers left Fellows Park after 94 years. It sits on Bescot Crescent (WS1 4SA), less than a mile from Junction 9 of the M6 and a two-minute walk from Bescot Stadium railway station. Capacity is 11,300 all-seated. For visiting supporters it is one of the more straightforward League Two away days: compact, close to the action, and unusually well served by both motorway and rail.
The ground is four separate stands rather than a bowl. The tall two-tier NorthStarr Stand (green sector) is the home end behind the northern goal and holds just under 5,000 after its 2003 extension. Opposite, behind the southern goal, is the single-tier B.A.T Stand (blue sector). That is where away fans sit, typically around 2,000, with a licensed bar and televisions on the concourse. Along the west touchline is the Pallet-Track Stand (red sector), the main stand with hospitality, the tunnel, dugouts and television gantry. Facing it on the east side is the Experienced Energy Solutions Stand (yellow sector), the community stand, with pitch-level wheelchair bays at the front — including spaces used by disabled away supporters.
On a large following the club sometimes also opens part of the east stand to visitors, so check your ticket for stand and turnstile before you queue. B.A.T Stand turnstiles are usually 27–28; extra away seating in the Experienced Energy Solutions Stand is often turnstiles 1–2. Supporting pillars in both the away end and the community stand can clip the view from some seats, so if you have a choice, avoid the very front rows immediately behind a post.
Getting there is simple. Leave the M6 at Junction 9, follow the A461 towards Walsall, then the A4148 Wallows Lane, and the stadium is on your left. Away parking is the Blue Zone immediately behind the B.A.T Stand, closest to the motorway and the station — take the second entrance on Bescot Crescent, by the hotel, not the first. Stadium parking is card-only and should be booked when possible. Trains from Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton stop at Bescot Stadium; the walk is short and obvious. Buses from Walsall town centre also drop outside.
The stadium is cashless for tickets, food, drink and parking. Programmes, when sold from a stall, have sometimes still been cash. Concourse food is the usual pies, sausage rolls, burgers and hot drinks. The Locker bar at the ground has admitted both home and away fans on some matchdays (a small entry charge for adults). There is little else immediately around the ground, so most visitors drink on the train, in Walsall or Wolverhampton, or go straight into the away bar, which typically opens well before kick-off.
Atmosphere travels well in this tight, rectangular ground. Even a modest away following can be heard from the B.A.T Stand. Flags and banners usually need prior consent from the club; drums are not allowed. Turnstiles commonly open around 90 minutes before kick-off. Leave time after the final whistle if you used official parking — some home car parks are locked two hours after the game. It is not a grand stadium, but it is practical, close to the pitch, and easy to reach. For most visiting supporters that is exactly what you want on a Saturday in the Black Country.