Chesterfield vs Walsall predictions: Spireites can take early initiative
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- Walsall blew a 12-point lead and have won just one of their last 14 games
- Chesterfield lost just one of their last 13 games, winning the last two
- Recommended bet: Chesterfield to win
Making the play-offs in the EFL usually generates feelings of joy and excitement but for Walsall, it will just feel underwhelming.
The Saddlers previously held a 12-point lead at the top of League Two, having galloped away towards promotion in the first half of the season.
But after loanee and top scorer Nathan Lowe returned to parent club Stoke in January, Walsall collapsed and, before the final day of the season, they were winless in 13 league matches.
It looked at one stage as though they were going to make amends for their poor second half of the season, defeating Crewe on the final day of the season to put themselves on the brink of making the top three.
But Bradford City had other ideas, scoring a scrappy goal after 96 minutes to win their final game against Fleetwood and leapfrog Walsall into the automatic promotion places.
It means Walsall must now go through the play-off lottery if they are to gain promotion from League Two and they could be up against it in the first leg of their semi-final against Chesterfield on Sunday.
Team news
Ollie Banks is expected to miss out for Chesterfield but player of the season Armando Dobra has been back in training and could be involved after dealing with a groin injury.
Jack Sparkes could also come back into contention.
Walsall have no new injuries but should welcome back Connor Barrett, who missed the final-day win over Crewe due to suspension.
The stats
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Before their win over Crewe on the final day of the League Two season, Walsall had been on a 13-game winless run in the league.
Chesterfield, meanwhile, finished the season unbeaten in their last six matches, winning their final two fixtures against Morecambe and Accrington.
And they have been a tough nut to crack at the SMH Group Stadium, finishing the season with the sixth-best home record in the division and losing just three of their 23 league matches there.
Prediction
This is a really tough one to call but in the first leg at the SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield look the value to win.
Walsall scraped a 1-0 win away to Crewe on the final day of the season but their confidence will be through the floor after Bradford's late winner against Fleetwood.
Blowing a 12-point lead at the summit will have really had its impact psychologically and that is not good preparation for the play-offs.
Losing Nathan Lowe, who was recalled by Stoke, in January was a major blow and the team has since struggled to look as sharp in attack, scoring more than once in just three of their last nine matches.
As for Chesterfield, they will be feeling good after holding off Salford City to claim the final play-off place and are arguably under less pressure than Walsall, who were expected to go up.
They finished the season with three wins and three draws from their last six games, scoring eight times in their last five matches.
At home they have lost just three times all season and with ace winger Dobra potentially back in the fold, they look a solid bet to establish an advantage in this tie.
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