Chesterfield v Walsall Prediction and Betting Tip - Odds, H2H and Preview Predictions

Chesterfield vs Walsall Preview

With all said and done in regular league action across the EFl, many stories in the 24/25 season have closed their books for the last time, with this chapter encapsulating the fourth tier, League Two.

Doncaster have been crowned champions, and they will be joined in League One by Port Vale and Bradford City, with a jaw-droppingly dramatic late winner on the final day sending the latter up, at the potentially temporary expense of the visiting side in this piece, whilst Carlisle United and Morecambe have been subjected to National League competition next season.

There is still one remaining story to tell in League Two this season, however, and it traditionally carries the tensest and tightest moments of the whole Football League bibliography.

That story is that of the play-offs. A daring shootout consisting of a two-legged semi-final and a final showdown at a pressure cooker called Wembley for the final spot in the league above. Four combatants of varying league success will step foot into the chaotic competition, with one remaining.

Chesterfield and Walsall are two of the League Two teams hoping that this year will be there, with Chesterfield playing hosts this Sunday.

Key Statistics

• Walsall looked set to earn automatic promotion, but a dismal 13-game winless streak saw them bomb away from contention
• A final-day win against Crewe Alexandra would have been enough to rescue a top-three finish, but a stunning 96th minute winner by Bradford saw them condemned to play-off action
• Chesterfield were as low as 16th by MW29, but recovered with a fine vein of form to snatch the final play-off spot with a final day win over Accrington Stanley
• The Spireites are led by infamous marksman Will Grigg, who fired home 12 league goals on their way to 7th place in League Two

Chesterfield Preview

Chesterfield Predicted Lineup: Boot; Mandeville, Palmer, McFadzean, Gordon, Fleck, Metcalfe, Naylor, Dobra, Colclough, Grigg Though Chesterfield may not have been in League Two for long, having won the National League title last season to get back into the Football League, they have certainly shown their quality on their way to the play-offs.

The Spireites are no strangers to playoff action, having unsuccessfully competed in them in the National League three times over before last season's title-winning promotion, and have roared into sudden contention as the League Two season began to approach it's curtain call.

Paul Cook's men flew into form in the final 13 games of the season, claiming 8 huge wins to rise from mid-table mediocrity into play-off hopefuls once again, with a final day win against Accrington Stanley lining up with a draw for Salfrd to seal it, looking to secure back-to-back promotions to head straight into League One contention.

In terms of available personnel for the semi-final clash, Chesterfield may receive a big boost with news that star player Armando Dobra has a "good chance" of appearing for the play-offs, having missed four games through injury. Jack Sparkes will also likely be within a shot of a return following a knee injury, though Ollie Banks is a doubt after a calf injury. Striker Paddy Madden picked up a tight hamstring in training before the clash with Accrington, and wasn't risked then, so it remains a mystery as to his potential involvement.

Walsall Preview

Walsall Predicted Lineup: Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen, Adomah, Gordon, Stirk, Chang, Hall, Jellis, Amantchi Walsall fans can forgive themselves for their apparent disappointment at only securing a play-off spot this season.

Though it was ultimately a last-gasp Bradford City winner that ripped automatic promotion away from them, despite The Saddlers claiming their first win since February to initially wrap it up, the damage had been done by Walsall themselves already.

Matt Sadler's side were, at a point, cruising at the top of the table, having sat in first place since the 17th game of the season. However, an unbelievable run of poor form struck the Bescot Stadium, winning just 5 matches in 2025 before the final day, and taking just 8 points from the 13 games prior to the final day too.

Though a 59th-minute George Hall winner seemed to be enough to still secure a guaranteed place in League One for 25/26, Bradford's dramatics ensured that there would be no easy escape from Walsall's awful fortunes in the League Two run-in.

Walsall will now be faced with the daunting task of the play-offs. Having held such a comfortable lead, initially, in League Two's regular season, to claw back anything worth boasting from their 24/25 campaign.

In terms of who is available for their rescue mission in Chesterfield, midfielder Jack Earing and defender Priestley Farquharson are expected to remain absent with long-term injuries.

Chesterfield vs Walsall Head-to-Head

Last five meetings:

• Walsall 3-1 Chesterfield - League Two - 15/02/25
• Chesterfield 2-2 Walsall - League Two - 05/10/24
• Walsall 1-0 Chesterfield - League One - 07/03/17
• Chesterfield 2-0 Walsall - League One - 16/08/16
• Chesterfield 1-4 Walsall - League One - 16/03/16

Chesterfield vs Walsall Betting Tip

Whilst traditionally, in play-off action, league form tends to go out of the window, a first leg at home and a surge of confidence will have Chesterfield optimistic going into their first play-off fixture.

Our experts have predicted that Chesterfield will come away with the win in this one, with Full-Time Result: Chesterfield landing as our best bet.

You can snag that market at a tempting 23/20 with Ladbrokes, meaning a £10 stake will return a solid £21.50!

Chesterfield vs Walsall Prediction

Chesterfield 1-0 Walsall Backed by a home crowd with belief behind them, we can see Chesterfield getting an opening win in this two-legged affair. However, with Walsall desperate to right their wrongs, we see this one remaining a close bout.