The 2015–16 season was an eventful one for Walsall. The club had four different managers on the way to a third-place finish in League One, one point away from promotion. Defeat to Barnsley in the playoff semi-finals meant the campaign ended in disappointment, but still represented the Saddlers' highest league placing in 12 years.
Story of the season The summer of 2015 saw relatively minor changes to the Saddlers squad. 2014-15 Player of the Year Richard O'Donnell departed and was replaced by Neil Etheridge, while other notable incomings included fullback Jason Demetriou and the return of forward Milan Lalkovic.
Strong start
Things got off to a flying start, with the Saddlers winning six of their first seven games in all competitions. This included League Cup wins over Championship opponents Nottingham Forest and Brighton, setting up a third round meeting with reigning Premier League champions Chelsea. Walsall were beaten 4–1, but received praise from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho for the club’s attractive style of play.
Managerial merry go round
The Saddlers’ good form continued and a 2–1 win over Bradford in late November left the club in fourth, three points of the top with a game in hand. However, just two days later it was announced that manager Dean Smith was leaving to charge at Championship Brentford. A caretaker trio of Jon Whitney, Neil Cutler and John Ward oversaw victory away at rivals Shrewsbury and progress to the FA Cup third round, before Sean O'Driscoll was appointed as Smith’s replacement.
The new boss got off to a bright start, with three successive wins and clean sheets. The Saddlers also got the better of old boss Smith with a 1–0 win away at Brentford in the FA Cup third round. However, things soon took a turn for the worse with the club going on a run of just two wins in 11 games. After just 16 games in charge, O’Driscoll was dismissed with the club sitting fourth five points off an automatic promotion spot with a game in hand.
Pipped by a point
Whitney was placed in temporary charge until the end of the season and the team responded with three successive victories. With league leaders Wigan Athletic having pulled away, the Saddlers were left to battle with Burton Albion and Gillingham for second spot. While the latter’s challenge faded, Burton matched the Saddlers’ efforts, meaning Walsall went into the final day of the season needing to overturn a three point deficit as well as achieving a goal difference swing of three goals on the Brewers. A 5–0 win away at Port Vale achieved the latter, but Burton’s 0–0 draw with Doncaster saw them promoted ahead of the Saddlers by one point.
A third-place finish meant Walsall would take on in-form Barnsley in the playoffs. The Tykes proved too much for the Saddlers, convincingly winning 3–0 at Oakwell and 3–1 at the Bescot. The Yorkshire side would go on to gain promotion by beating Millwall in the final.
The Saddlers’ young fullback Rico Hery and playmaker Romaine Sawyers were included in the official League one Team of the Season.
Transfers
Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1 July 2015 RB Jason Demetriou Anorthosis Famagusta Free transfer 1 July 2015 AM Levi Rowley Academy Trainee 1 July 2015 CB Kyle Rowley Academy Trainee 2 July 2015 GK Neil Etheridge Charlton Athletic Free transfer 16 July 2015 RW Milan Lalkovič Barnsley Free transfer 3 September 2015MFIsaiah OsbourneScunthorpe UnitedFree transfer
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref.20 October 2015MFGeorge EvansManchester City16 January 201628 January 2016MFBryn MorrisMiddlesbrough28 March 201625 February 2016MFJosh WakefieldAFC BournemouthEnd of season4 March 2016FWJordy HiwulaHuddersfield TownEnd of season24 March 2016DFMatthew PenningtonEvertonEnd of season
Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 1 July 2015 LB Mal Benning Mansfield Town Free transfer 1 July 2015 AM Ashley Grimes Barrow Free transfer 1 July 2015 CM Jake Heath Rushall Olympic Free Transfer 1 July 2015 GK Richard O'Donnell Wigan Athletic Free transfer 1 July 2015 RB Ben Purkiss Port Vale Free transfer 17 July 2015 CB James Chambers Retired
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until Ref. 7 August 2015 CB Kyle Rowley Sutton Coldfield Town 4 September 2015 15 August 2015FWAmadou BakayokoAFC Telford UnitedSeptember 20159 October 2015FWJordan MurphyKidderminster Harriers3 December 20158 January 2016FWJordan MurphyWorcester CityEnd of season9 January 2016FWJames BaxendaleMansfield Town1 February 201615 January 2016FWAmadou BakayokoWorcester CityEnd of season
Competitions
Pre-season friendlies On 7 May 2015, Walsall announced a pre-season friendly against Luton Town. Also Walsall would face West Bromwich Albion, AFC Telford United, Rushall Olympic and Chasetown. On 28 May 2015, Walsall added Aston Villa to their pre-season schedule.
League One
League table
Matches On 17 June 2015, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.
Play Off
FA Cup
League Cup On 16 June 2015, the first round draw was made, Walsall were drawn away against Nottingham Forest. In the second round Walsall were drawn at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Football League Trophy On 8 August 2015, live on Soccer AM the draw for the first round of the Football League Trophy was drawn by Toni Duggan and Alex Scott.
Birmingham Senior Cup On the Birmingham FA website the first round details were announced, Walsall will face Rugby Town.
Squad statistics Source:
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.NameAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyPlay-offsTotalDiscipline1GK40050300020500302DF3413000204803DF200010102404DF37140311020472305 DF *0000000000106DF46350300020563707MF45050301020560808MF81301009409FW1730231020202010MF650102074011 MF00000000012MF4100052013GK0000100000014DF24031002031015MF703110084016DF2100100021017MF0000000000018MF3030101033020FW00000000000021FW3000142022MF11000100010023GK00000000000026MF0000000000000027 MF *123410000001644027MF *00000000000028MF0000000000000029MF0000000000000030GK0000000000000031FW *30000000310
+ Players not included in matchday squadsNo.Pos.Nat.Name11MF *19FW24FW25 DF
References