Our first midweek away trip of the campaign…
Walsall will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten league start at Chesterfield this evening. The Saddlers won 4-1 in last season’s corresponding fixture, in what was Jon Whitney’s first match as interim head coach. Danny Wilson’s Spireites struggled but survived in 2015/16, finishing 18th and avoiding relegation by seven points. Chesterfield are also undefeated in League One this term and have an identical record to the Saddlers, having won one and drawn one.
Chesterfield: 5th – P2 W1 D1 L0 F4 A2 PTS4
Walsall: 6th – P2 W1 D1 L0 F3 A1 PTS4
13th August – Chesterfield 3-1 Swindon – League One
Chesterfield opened their home campaign with a comprehensive victory against Swindon. Gary Liddle headed the Spireites ahead on 22 minutes and Jay O’Shea doubled their lead with a penalty in first-half injury time. Ched Evans’ tap-in made it 3-0 shortly after the hour mark, before Darnell Furlong netted a late consolation.
13th August – Oldham 0-0 Walsall – League One
Walsall’s first away match of the 2016/17 League One season ended in an uninspiring goalless draw at Oldham. Substitute Andreas Makris went closest for the Saddlers with a powerful strike which Connor Ripley parried, while Lee Erwin hit the post with a close-range header for Oldham.
Chesterfield wins: 30
Walsall wins: 33
Draws: 29
12th March 2016 – Chesterfield 1-4 Walsall - League One
Sam Mantom scored twice as Walsall came from behind to thrash ten-man Chesterfield in Jon Whitney's first match as interim head coach. Jim O’Connor’s 19th-minute own goal put the Spireites ahead, only for Tom Anderson to also put through his own net to make it 1-1. Mantom’s calm finish gave the visitors a 57th-minute lead, before Chesterfield’s Dion Donohue was sent off for violent conduct. Jordy Hiwula pounced on an Anderson error to make it 3-1 and Mantom added a smartly-taken fourth to clinch Walsall’s first win in seven.
Chesterfield Manager: Danny Wilson
The 56-year-old succeeded Dean Saunders as Chesterfield boss in December 2015 and guided the Spireites to League One safety last season. He is one of the most experienced managers in the Football League, having taken charge of over 1,000 competitive matches with eight different clubs. The former Sheffield United, Swindon and Hartlepool boss was named the 1997 LMA Manager of the Year after leading Barnsley to promotion to the Premier League.
Chesterfield Star Man: Ched Evans
Chesterfield Star Man: Ched Evans
The Wales forward has scored two goals in as many league matches for the Spireites since joining the club in the summer. A former Manchester City youngster, the 27-year-old also worked with Chesterfield manager Danny Wilson at Sheffield United, where he scored an impressive 42 league goals in 103 appearances.
Left-back Rico Henry is ruled out after dislocating his shoulder in Saturday’s draw with Oldham. Playmaker Erhun Oztumer, who also came off against the Latics, and captain Adam Chambers will both be assessed.
Graham Salisbury
Left-back Rico Henry is ruled out after dislocating his shoulder in Saturday’s draw with Oldham. Playmaker Erhun Oztumer, who also came off against the Latics, and captain Adam Chambers will both be assessed.
Graham Salisbury
The Lancashire-born referee officiated 35 matches last season and has taken charge of two so far in 2016/17. The last Walsall game he refereed was our 3-0 home defeat against Rochdale on 2nd January.
If you are not attending the game, make sure you tune into Saddlers Player for full uninterrupted commentary at www.player.saddlers.co.uk.
Pre-match build-up, live in-game coverage and post-match reaction will be available on our official Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Snapchat and Instagram accounts.
If you are not attending the game, make sure you tune into Saddlers Player for full uninterrupted commentary at www.player.saddlers.co.uk.
Pre-match build-up, live in-game coverage and post-match reaction will be available on our official Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Snapchat and Instagram accounts.