Walsall's greatest League Cup runs: 90 minutes from Europe and that wild year under Jan Sorensen

Walsall kick-off the Lee Grant era with a Carabao Cup first round tie at Championship side Bristol City on Thursday night.

The Saddlers’ have fallen at the first round stage in two of the past three seasons, but did embark on a run to the third round in 2024.

Here, we delve into the archives to recount the greatest League Cup runs in the club’s history.

2024-25: Welcome Nathan Lowe

Mat Sadler became the first manager in nine years to lead Walsall to the third round.

Walsall beat League One pair Exeter City and Huddersfield Town respectively to set-up a tasty tie against then Premier League side Leicester City.

An inspired performance saw the Saddlers hold Leicester to a goalless draw, before they bowed out on penalties with a 3-0 shoot-out defeat.

2015-16: Chelsea stars grace Bescot

Walsall had gone ever longer without progressing beyond the second round when Dean Smith achieved that feat in 2015.

They overcame Nottingham Forest with a thrilling 4-3 victory in the first round and came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 courtesy of goals from Milan Lalkovic and Rico Henry.

Reigning Premier League champions Chelsea eased to a 4-1 victory at Bescot - with James O’Connor scoring the only goal for the Saddlers.

2002-03: Blackburn penalty heartache

Colin Lee was at the helm when Walsall, then still in the second-tier, mounted another respectable run.

Jorge Leitao scored the only goal against local rivals Shrewsbury Town at Bescot in the first round and was joined on the score sheet by Brazilian talent Junior in a 2-1 success over Nottingham Forest.

Zigor Aranalde and David Zdrillic both scored in a 2-2 draw at Blackburn Rovers, but they ultimately fell to a 5-4 defeat to the Premier League side on penalties.

1984-85: Threatening another run

After reaching the semi-finals just 12 months earlier, Walsall initially threatened to embark on another memorable run in the competition.

The Saddlers eased to a 5-1 aggregate win over Swansea City and followed that up with a 4-2 success against Coventry City over two legs.

They forced a replay with Chelsea following a 2-2 draw, but lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.

1963-64: First notable run

In just the fourth edition of the League Cup, Walsall progressed to the third round for the first time under the iconic Bill Moore.

Walsall started in the second round where they followed a goalless draw against Ipswich Town with a 1-0 victory in the replay at Fellows Park.

They were then eliminated after losing 2-0 at Halifax Town and Moore’s memorable six-year spell came to an end less than a month later.

1997-98: That wild year under Sorensen

In a wild season under the late Jan Sorensen, Walsall reached the fourth round of the League Cup for just the third time in their history.

Clive Platt and Roger Boli scored in a 2-0 victory over Exeter City, before the latter sealed the deal during a 1-0 success in the second leg.

Justin Skinner netted the only goal against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and Andy Watson bagged a brace in the second leg, as Walsall progressed 3-2 on aggregate.

Walsall then went on to beat Sheffield United 2-1, before bowing out to West Ham United in a 4-1 defeat on home soil.

1966-67: The Saddlers’ Stoke-on-Trent double

Ray Shaw guided the Saddlers into the fourth round of the League Cup for the first time in 1966.

They started with a 3-1 triumph at local rivals Port Vale and followed that up with a 2-1 win over Stoke City.

Walsall then emerged 2-1 victors at Exeter City, before losing 2-1 at Sheffield United.

1983-84: 90 minutes from Europe

The Saddlers’ best ever run in the competition came under the legendary Alan Buckley when they embarked on a memorable journey to the semi-finals.

They beat Blackpool 5-2 on aggregate in the first round and Barnsley 3-0 over two legs in the second round.

A 2-1 victory over local rivals Shrewsbury Town set-up a lucrative tie against English heavyweights Arsenal.

Stewart Robson opened the scoring for Arsenal, but goals from Mark Rees and Ally Brown secured an iconic victory at Highbury.

They then held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield in the last four, before losing 2-0 in front of nearly 20,000 spectators at Fellows Park.