Our first meeting with Walsall came during the Second Division fixture in 1892-93; the Blades first ever league season which resulted in promotion. United beat Walsall Town Swifts (there former name) 3-0 at Bramall Lane on 7 January and later drew 1-1 on the final day of the season. The Blades beat First Division Accrington in a promotion/relegation play-off by a single goal on neutral ground whilst Walsall (Town Swifts) finished bottom of the league.
The pair then had to wait until 1980-81 seasons Third Division campaign – 87 years later. It was a season that will be remembered for ‘older’ supporters for the wrong reasons. On 29 November they drew 4-4 at their former Fellows Park Ground and more importantly the Saddlers won 1-0 (2 May) at the Lane in a crunch match which would decide the fate of both teams.
United needed to just a point or more to retain their Third Division status whilst Walsall, also battling relegation needed all three points at Bramall Lane to ensure their safety, with five minutes remaining the visitors had the lead until United won a penalty. Don Givens stepped up, knowing his goal would save their blushes but missed his chance and left Sheffield United relegated along with; Colchester United, Blackpool and Hull City.
Since then there have been further meetings between the two clubs and after bouncing back at a cantor the Blades were soon back facing third tier football, but after several progressions from both United and Walsall, come the 1999-2000 campaign the pair were facing one another with just a stone’s throw away from the Premiership.
The Saddlers were relegated in their first season but like United bounced back and were soon in Division One, and they clung onto this with dear life – United had won 2-1 at the Bescot Stadium earlier in the season but has the season drew closer to the finish they would return to Bramall Lane for the final home game of the season. On 13 April 2002 the Saddlers needed a win to avoid relegation, and like in 1981 they did just that, Jorge Leitao netting the decisive goal. United were already safe but the result, twinned with Norwich’s win at Barnsley relegated the Tykes instead – result!
They kept their ‘Championship’ status for a further two seasons until they found they could no longer compete, and with lack of investment were duly relegated. And the pair didn’t meet again until the Blades were relegated to League One in 2011.
Last season the Cutlers recorded a one-nil victory at Bramall Lane (23 October) by a single goal when Nick Blackman (14 minutes) netted his seventh goal of the season after scoring from the penalty spot when Dave Kitson was hauled down in the box, Dean Holden (for the Saddlers) was dismissed in the process.
Meanwhile at the Bescot the two sides drew 1-1 in what was a pivotal game. The Saddlers looked contenders to sneak into the play-offs and prior to the game had gone twelve matches without defeat. During the game both sides spurned chances to win it with George Long in top form, but it was the hosts who took the lead; Craig Westcarr (44 minutes) firing home. Changes were made at half-time and following Kevin McDonald’s low drive the ball was eventually scrambled home by substitute Chris Porter (65) who salvaged a point.
|
At Sheff. Utd. (11) |
At Walsall (11) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
7 |
63.64 |
Walsall |
3 |
27.27 |
|
|
Walsall |
2 |
18.18 |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 |
36.36 |
|
|
Draws |
2 |
18.18 |
Draws |
4 |
36.36 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
18 |
1.64 |
Walsall |
15 |
1.36 |
|
|
Walsall |
7 |
0.64 |
Sheff. Utd. |
16 |
1.45 |
|
|
On Neutral Ground (0) |
Overall (22 matches) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
11 |
50.00 |
|
|
Walsall |
0 |
0.00 |
Walsall |
5 |
22.73 |
|
|
Draws |
0 |
0.00 |
Draws |
6 |
27.27 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
34 |
1.55 |
|
|
Walsall |
0 |
0.00 |
Walsall |
22 |
1.00 |
|
|
Records |
|||||
|
Highest Aggregate |
8 |
Walsall |
4 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1980/1981 |
|
Highest Sheff. Utd. score: |
4 |
Walsall |
4 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1980/1981 |
|
Highest Walsall score: |
4 |
Walsall |
4 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1980/1981 |
|
Season |
Date |
Home |
Score |
Away |
|
|
2012/2013 |
Sat 06 Apr |
Walsall |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League One |
|
Tue 23 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Walsall |
League One |
|
|
2011/2012 |
Tue 06 Mar |
Walsall |
3 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League One |
|
Tue 16 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 2 |
Walsall |
League One |
|
|
2003/2004 |
Sat 24 Apr |
Walsall |
0 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Tue 09 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Walsall |
League Division One |
|
|
2002/2003 |
Sat 15 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Walsall |
F.A. Cup |
|
Thu 26 Dec |
Walsall |
0 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
Sat 17 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Walsall |
League Division One |
|
|
2001/2002 |
Sat 13 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 1 |
Walsall |
League Division One |
|
Sat 24 Nov |
Walsall |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1999/2000 |
Sat 15 Jan |
Walsall |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Sat 14 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Walsall |
League Division One |
|
|
1997/1998 |
Tue 14 Oct |
Walsall |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Cup |
|
1983/1984 |
Sat 31 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Walsall |
Third Division |
|
Tue 06 Sep |
Walsall |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
|
1982/1983 |
Sat 19 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Walsall |
Third Division |
|
Sat 09 Oct |
Walsall |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
|
1980/1981 |
Sat 02 May |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 1 |
Walsall |
Third Division |
|
Sat 29 Nov |
Walsall |
4 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
|
1892/1893 |
Sat 15 Apr |
Walsall T.S. |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Sat 07 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Walsall T.S. |
Second Division |