WALSALL v CHESTERFIELD – Pick: 1 – 07 April 2012

League One

Saturday 7^th April 2012 – Kickoff:  1500hrs

It’s another relegation battle at the Bescot Stadium that I look at in this one with Walsall playing host to rock-bottom Chesterfield who are ten points behind the home side with time running out fast.

Walsall can effectively go some way to contributing to Chesterfield’s demise by taking all three points as they themselves look to put some daylight between them and the bottom four. The Saddlers are currently just two points ahead of Wycombe Wanderers and they will no doubt be keen to pull away from the drop-zone.

Walsall are on a four match unbeaten run with draws against Sheffield Wednesday, Stevenage and Rochdale along with a win against Colchester United 3-1 at home have ensured that the midlands outfit have kept their heads above water.

Walsall’s home record stands at  6-8-6  23/23, and they’ve won three of their last five at home (2-0 v Wycombe Wanderers, 3-2 v Sheffield United and 3-1 v Colchester) along with draws against Hartlepool United and Stevenage.

Macken and Nicholls are the main threats although Macken didn’t feature at Rochdale last weekend.  Taundry and Hurst have also supplied 5 assists each.

Poor Chesterfield will be looking to record a much-needed win and break a six match run without a victory when they travel to the midlands on Saturday. The Derbyshire side remain bottom of League One two points adrift of Exeter City but more importantly, ten points behind Walsall and safety.

A run of three draws against Preston NE, Stevenage and MK Dons had given them a glimmer of hope, but since then have suffered three straight losses at the hands of Huddersfield Town, Sheffield United and Scnthorpe United, conceding 10 goals and scoring just 2.

The Spireites’ away record stands at a poor  2-6-12  24/41, with only Wycombe Wanderers conceding more goals than them on the road. In fact, they’ve kept just the two clean sheets on the road all season to date, and with a Walsall side keen to pull away from them they look likely to be under siege again.

Striker Westcarr (7 goals, 6 assists) is their main threat but has been lacking the support required to lift them out of trouble with only Jordan Bowery (5 goals) making any sort of impression. The departure of Leon Clarke (11 goals) to Crawley Town has left a void in the attack and quite frankly, Chesterfield need a miracle to avoid almost certain relegation.

Walsall are a gritty side and I’m backing them to find a way to win this one despite a spirited attempt by Chesterfield – I’ll take Walsall to win 2-1.

Main Pick:  Walsall straight win @ 2.00 Coral

Value Pick:  Walsall AH-1 @ 2.75 Pinnacle