When these two teams meet on Saturday, it will be their 95th competitive meeting in all competitions. It looks like an EFL fixture on paper.

Despite being at home, and the side in the higher division, we think Tranmere Rovers are opposable here. Nigel Adkins’ side are 19th in the league table, having won just one of their last nine league games. FotMob’s Expected Points table has them in 23rd position, with three fewer points than the actual table. Rovers have only won one home league game this season.

Unfortunately, contributed to by off-field issues, Oldham find themselves in the National League since relegation in 2022. They have started this season positively though, currently sitting in fifth position in the table. They have been particularly good away from home, winning four and drawing three of their eight games, with a solitary defeat at fellow play-off challengers Solihull Moors.

There is some added spice to this one, as Oldham manager Micky Mellon had two separate spells as Tranmere manager, leading them to back-to-back promotion from the National League to League One in his first spell, and he also made 173 appearances as a player at Prenton Park.

Walsall have had a fantastic start to the season in League Two, presently occupying an automatic promotion place. The Saddlers have won five of their six home games so far, only losing in a crazy game against Fleetwood 6-2. FotMob’s Expected Points table even has them underperforming their data by two points, ranking them as the top team in the division.

After a shaky start, Bolton are now also acquitting themselves well, having clawed their way up to the play-off spots, where many expected them to be before a ball was kicked. Their away form is good too, having won four of six league games away from home. Ian Evatt was seemingly on the brink of departing after losing three games in a row in August/September, but some backroom changes seem to have turned things around, with only one loss in their last seven in League One.

This won’t be easy for Walsall, but having seen how well three of the four promoted teams in League One are doing so far this season, a good side like The Saddlers may be able to overcome the gap in league positions between the two sides.

When writing a piece looking for underdog victories in the FA Cup First Round, the first thing to take note of is which team is at the bottom of League Two.

The answer to that question of course, is Morecambe. They have won just one of 14 league games this season, accompanied by four draws and nine defeats. Are they as bad as that record suggests? Probably not. FotMob’s Expected Points table has them underperforming their expected points tally by six points, but still has them ranked in 22nd place.

Morecambe face Worthing away from home, a National League South side who find themselves fifth in the table. Worthing were close to reaching the fifth tier of English football last season, losing out in the play-offs to Braintree Town. They have won five of their last six games in all competitions, only losing to former EFL side Torquay United, who are one place below them in the season.

It might pay to side with Worthing in this one, in a game which could be a league fixture next term.