Dean Smith can't wait to get Walsall started
Walsall boss Dean Smith has called for his side to hit the ground the running following the release of the 2015-16 fixtures.
The Saddlers begin their League One campaign with a home tie against Oldham on August 8 before back-to-back away games at Southend and Rochdale.
Smith's men will return to the Banks's Stadium on August 22 for a local derby with Coventry. It's then a trip to Blackpool for the Bank Holiday weekend on August 29.
He said: "It's a really competitive start, which is what you want, It's great to kick season on with a home game, in front of our own fans. Fixture release day is something we all look forward to.
"The fans get to plan where they're going to be heading for next nine months and, obviously, we as staff can start plotting our course for the season
"The games come thick and fast. We've got five games in first two weeks, so we have got an opportunity to hit the ground running.
"We go to Southend early on which is what we did last season in the Capital One Cup so it's nice to go there in the League which will give the fans a weekend away in August.
"To have Coventry as our second home game will be a good local derby which will hopefully attract a good crowd in the sun."
The Saddlers will travel to face recently relegated Millwall on Boxing Day before hosting Peterborough on December 28 and then Rochdale on January 2.
Walsall will also have to navigate a tough run-in with Swindon visiting the West Midlands on April 19 before an away game at Bradford.
They then face Fleetwood at home before ending the season at Port Vale on May 8.
Smith said: "It's nice to be at home at Christmas but you don't always get the luck of the draw.
"Millwall are a team who have dropped out the Championship so that's a game I'll be looking forward to and making sure the players are right for it.
"Burton (Oct 10) are a side we'll play for the first time competitively and we look forward to welcoming Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to the Banks's.
"Having played and captained Port Vale, it'll be a great end to the season, a Staffordshire derby at Vale Park.
"I love the fact that the fixtures are finally here and it makes you realise how close we are to the beginning of the season. It's one we're all looking forward to."
