Walsall vs Chesterfield predictions: Saddlers can seal play-off final place
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- Walsall have drawn six of their last 11 matches
- Chesterfield have failed to score more than once in their last four away games
- Recommended bet: Draw
Walsall squandered a massive opportunity in the automatic promotion race but they have reset for the play-offs and approach their second leg at home to Chesterfield with a handy 2-0 advantage.
The Saddlers would have preferred to avoid an extended season but they knuckled down to the task at the SMH Group Stadium on Sunday and achieved a fantastic result thanks to Taylor Allen’s penalty and a superb strike from Alfie Chang.
Chesterfield climbed into the top seven by winning 1-0 at Accrington in their 46th game but they struggled at the weekend and head to Walsall with their backs against the wall.
Team news
Jamille Matt returned to the Walsall starting line-up in the opening leg and should keep his place in the side.
Connor Barrett completes a three-game suspension and Ellis Harrison (unspecified injury) is a doubt after playing no part at the weekend. Priestley Farquharson (thigh) and Jack Earing (ankle) have been out long-term.
Jack Sparkes and Armando Dobra returned from layoffs to feature as substitutes for Chesterfield in Sunday's opening leg.
However, Janoi Donacien, Chey Dunkley, Ryheem Sheckleford, Bailey Hobson, Mike Jones and Vontae Daley-Campbell missed out and are not expected to be involved in the return match.
The stats
Walsall have won back-to-back games for the first time since February.
Each of Walsall’s last four matches have featured less than three goals.
The Saddlers have kept clean sheets in three of their last four fixtures.
Chesterfield have lost only one of their last six away matches.
Prediction
Walsall were unable to get over the line in the automatic promotion race but they are in a strong position in the play-off semi-final and can see it through with a draw at the Bescot Stadium.
The final few months of the league campaign were a rocky period for the Saddlers, who were 12 points clear at the top in mid-January but ended up a point behind third-placed Bradford.
However, Mat Sadler’s side regrouped for last weekend’s trip to Derbyshire and delivered a focused and intense performance to rekindle the club’s promotion push.
Chesterfield went into the first leg with aspirations of pushing for a second successive promotion but they failed to build on a bright opening to the game.
Paul Cook’s side have looked rather toothless in recent away matches — scoring just twice in the last four — and they might struggle to make inroads into Walsall’s advantage.
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