Walsall vs Chesterfield Prediction: 12/1 Correct Score Tip, Team News & More
Walsall will be aiming to finish off the job when they entertain Chesterfield in the second leg of their League Two play-off semi-final at the Bescot Stadium.
The Saddlers won the first leg 2-0, giving them a handsome lead for this assignment on Friday 16th May, with a 8pm kick-off and live coverage on Sky Sports Football.
Walsall vs Chesterfield Prediction
Walsall vs Chesterfield Betting Tips
This has been the first season these rivals have shared the same division since they were in League One together in 2016/17.
They played out a 2-2 draw at the SMH Group Stadium in October, both teams scoring before half-time, while Walsall recovered from shipping an early goal to Jamie Grimes at the Bescot Stadium in February to run out 3-1 winners.
The Saddlers were 2-0 victors in the first leg, but Chesterfield really should have had something to show for their efforts.
Tom Naylor and Aribim Pepple forced saves from Tommy Simkin in the Walsall goal, while Ash Palmer's header came back off the crossbar.
Paul Cook's side will have to go for it in the second leg and it could be a free-scoring evening in the West Midlands.
With Chesterfield destined to attack as they seek to overturn the first leg deficit, Walsall will aim to take advantage at the other end.
That 2-2 draw back in October saw both sides scoring a goal apiece in each half. Something similar could unfold now.
A miserable end to the season saw Walsall win just one of their last nine home league games, with four draws.
Five wins in six through March into April propelled the Spireites into the play-off race. They got their spot on the final day, but it could have been easier if it were not for a run of three draws in four games in mid-April. Both teams have been prone to stalemates.
Chesterfield should put pressure on their hosts but a high-scoring draw would be no shock and will suit the Saddlers down to the ground.
Walsall vs Chesterfield Team News & Lineups
Walsall Team News
- Walsall midfielder Alfie Chang was a deadline day signing from Birmingham City over the winter. He'd suffered a serious knee injury in 2023 and had only played once this season before the move, so his new boss Mat Sadler was content to allow him some breathing space.
- He was rewarded when Chang drilled home a fierce low shot from the edge of the area in the first leg for the first goal of his professional career. The 22-year-old is peaking fitness-wise, while many around him start to flag after a long season.
- He has now started four games on the trot for Walsall and helped them to back-to-back wins after a miserable 13-game streak without a win saw them tumble from top to fourth in League Two.
Chesterfield Team News
- Paul Cook named an unchanged starting XI for Chesterfield in the home leg, though Armando Dobra and Jack Sparkes were back from injury amongst the subs and got second-half cameos.
- Both may push for starts, with Albanian-born Dobra having scored nine times this season from midfield.
The Walsall vs Chesterfield lineups will be displayed below approximately one hour before kick-off.
| # | Starting XI | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy Simkin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Taylor Ellis Allen | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | Harry Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | David Okagbue | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Liam Spencer Gordon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Ryan William Stirk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Alfie James Chang | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Nathan Asiimwe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | George Cardinal Joseph Hall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Jamie Ryan Jellis | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Jamille Antonio Matt | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| # | Substitutes | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Albert Danquah Adomah | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Levi Amantchi | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Brandon Comley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Donervon Joseph Daniels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Joshua Luke Gordon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Samuel Connor Hornby | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Charlie Lakin | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| # | Starting XI | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Ryan Thomas William Boot | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Lewis Gordon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Kyle John McFadzean | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Ashley John Palmer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Liam Mandeville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | John Alexander Fleck | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Jenson Metcalfe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | Armando Dobra | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Thomas Keith Naylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Oliver Ian Banks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Aribim Pepple | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| # | Substitutes | Fouls | Goals | Shots | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Ryan Paul Colclough | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Dylan Duffy | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | William Donald Grigg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Jamie Neil Grimes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Michael Edward Jacobs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Jack Sparkes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Max Anthony Thompson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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