Walsall vs Bolton FA Cup preview: Mat Sadler hungry to make "more memories"

Walsall have made a storming start to the league campaign with an impressive record of eight wins from 13 games propelling them into second spot in League Two. 

In the FA Cup, the Saddlers have progressed beyond the first round in five of the last six seasons and earned plum ties against Southampton and Leicester City in the previous two campaigns.

And Sadler is keen to install another memorable chapter in the FA Cup by testing themselves against a Bolton team who've climbed into the League One play-off spots with six wins from their last eight games.  

He said: "We get the opportunity on Saturday to try and prove some people wrong. We get the chance to try and create some memories. 

"Although we do that day-to-day and game-to-game in the league, people don't necessarily look back and highlight certain games on that journey. Whereas with the cup games, you get more memories attached to it. 

"We're desperate to make more memories. We've had it in the cup with some brilliant results in the EFL Trophy and Carabao Cup. We want to continue that and we want to make some good memories in this cup." 

Walsall boast a strong track record against teams from the division above this season. Sadler's men dumped League One pair Exeter City and Huddersfield Town out of the Carabao Cup before falling to an agonising shoot-out defeat against Premier League outfit Leicester City. 

They also earned a creditable 1-1 draw against League One leaders Birmingham City in the EFL Trophy and gained an extra point by winning the shoot-out at St Andrew's.

While Sadler acknowledged that Walsall have given a good account of themselves in cup competitions this season, he believes the past games will be irrelevant once the first whistle blows on the weekend.

"It's great that we've had those experiences. The majority of them have been on our own patch with the Birmingham game being the only exception," he continued. 

"But we've put a fantastic account of ourselves across in those games. That's brilliant and that's part of our story but as soon as we cross that white line together on Saturday, those games will be irrelevant. 

"It'll be up against a really good League One team who I think will be challenging for those top two places if what I've seen recently is anything to go by. 

"We'll go into it and give the very best account of ourselves. We know that at our place, in front of our supporters and with the group that we have. We'll do everything we possibly can to have another one of those days.

Walsall have no fresh injury issues ahead of the weekend although long-term absentees Priestley Farquharson (thigh) and Josh Gordon (hamstring) remain out until the New Year.