Head-to-Head: Walsall (h)

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 United relegated along with; Colchester United, Blackpool and Hull City.

Earlier this season The Blades beat Walsall 1-0 at the Lane; 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. The result kept United third in the table and that result, linked with Stevenage's 0-4 home defeat to Swindon Town and (then) league leaders Tranmere Rovers drew 1-1 with Preston North End leaving the Blades requiring maximum points from tonight's match to go level with the Prenton Park club.