Walsall win 2-0 at Chesterfield in League Two play-off semi-final first leg
Allen put Saddlers ahead from penalty spot before Chang thumped in second
Second leg takes place at Bescot Stadium on Friday (20:00 BST KO)
AFC Wimbledon beat Notts County 1-0 in other League Two play-off on Saturday
FT: Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Image source, PA MediaSo we still await our first home win of these EFL play-offs as Walsall get themselves a nice lead to take back to the Bescot Stadium next Friday.
Feel free to us for the League One tie between Wycombe and Charlton which starts at 18:30 BST or maybe head for the garden and something cooling.
If you missed any of the action you can read the report by clicking on the report tab at the top of this page.
FT: Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Lee Turnbull
Former Chesterfield forward on BBC Radio Sheffield
It was really executed from the Saddlers.
The important stat was that Walsall scored two, Chesterfield didn't score any.
The Spireites have to go into the next leg and get an early goal.
The pressure is still on to a certain degree for Walsall but they will be absolutely delighted.
They deserved that. To let what happened at the end of the season go.
They've been outstanding. I thought the set-up was superb and their work rate was exceptional.
It's not been there but when it mattered the most today, it's been there.
That Crewe result was heart-breaking - but has it galvanised Walsall?
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Lee Turnbull
Former Chesterfield forward on BBC Radio Sheffield
Paul Cook will be a little bit frustrated that they haven't been able to create the opportunities from the centre of the pitch.
The keeper has made some outstanding saves but they've not really dominated the midfield.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Into time added on we go.
We will have at least a further five minutes.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Jimmy Walker
Former Walsall goalkeeper on BBC Radio WM
The cross was too easy to come in.
You have to stop that cross. Liam Gordon is too square on, he doesn't have a clue what's behind him.
That's great goal keeping but you can't have those chances in there.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Dylan Duffy gets a cross to the far post and Aribim Pepple's downward header is held on the line by Tommy Simkin.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Michael Jacobs and Jack Sparkes are on for Chesterfield.
John Fleck and Lewis Gordon head off.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Walsall might get a third as it opens up for Levi Amantchi and Ryan Boot tips it over and gets just enough on it as the ball nestles on the roof of the goal.
The corner isn't effectively dealt with but Taylor Allen's speculative effort is over.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Lee Turnbull
Former Chesterfield forward on BBC Radio Sheffield
It's been a slightly disappointing performance from Chesterfield today if I'm being honest.
It's disted.
Image source, Rex FeaturesChesterfield 0-2 Walsall
This is all disrupting the game but that suits Walsall.
George Hall is replaced by Josh Gordon for Walsall and Albert Adomah comes on for Jamie Jellis.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
At the moment Chesterfield are heading for a first defeat in seven games and Walsall for back-to-back wins for the first time since February.
Chesterfield want to try to change that with two substitutions.
Ryan Colclough and Tom Naylor are off for Dylan Duffy and Aribim Pepple.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Sanny Rudravajhala
BBC Radio 5 Live at the SMH Group Stadium
The home fans have got really frustrated now.
They think Walsall are making the most of every stoppage and it’s completely derailing Chesterfield’s momentum.
They’ve had Tommy Simkin to thank for keeping them two ahead.
The Spireites need to keep going and forget the time-wasting of their opponents if they’re getting back into this.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Jimmy Walker
Former Walsall goalkeeper on BBC Radio WM
In an ideal world, everyone would get through 90 minutes at that pace.
Charlie Lakin has to come on and be ready.
He's more of an attacking minded player but he's got to do that job, got to sit in.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Jamille Matt's race is run for Walsall and he's replaced by Levi Amantchi for the final 15 minutes.
Ryan Stirk is also off and on comes Charlie Lakin.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Lee Turnbull
Former Chesterfield forward on BBC Radio Sheffield
There's been a bit more urgency from Spireites in the last few minutes to find that second goal.
It will make all the difference.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Saddlers stopper Tommy Simkin has to touch Ashley Palmer's downward header onto the bar and it bounces over.
Some concerted pressure from Chesterfield is eventually ended by a handball by Armando Dobra.
Simkin is down again - now, call me a cynic but this might be to just take the sting out of things.
Frustration boils over behind his goal and something has been thrown onto the pitch which referee Martin Coy hands to his fourth official...
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
Jimmy Walker
Former Walsall goalkeeper on BBC Radio WM
All of a sudden, Walsall look leggy.
Liam Gordon has to find his second wind and find it quickly. He's been outstanding.
Chesterfield 0-2 Walsall
We are into the final quarter of this first leg.
It's been relatively quiet after the break apart from that Tom Naylor header which was saved and Lewis Gordon's blocked volley.
We've seen very little of Walsall as an attacking force since they went 2-0 up.
Image source, PA Media
Taylor Allen (right) celebrates putting Walsall ahead with his 11th goal of the season
Walsall made light of their dismal end to the League Two season to take a two-goal advantage into the second leg of their play-off semi-final with Chesterfield.
The away side, who won just three of their final 21 league games this season to drop from first to fourth, took the lead when Taylor Allen coolly slotted home from the penalty spot after Liam Mandeville had taken out Liam Gordon.
The Saddlers made it 2-0 before the break when Alfie Chang drilled home a fierce low shot from the edge of the area.
Tom Naylor and Aribim Pepple forced saves from Tommy Simkin in the Walsall goal either side of Ash Palmer's header which bounced off the crossbar but the home side could not find a goal to take into the second leg.
Mat Sadler's men will welcome the Derbyshire side to the Bescot Stadium for the second leg on Friday.
Chesterfield had claimed a league-high 28 points in their final 13 matches to snatch seventh place ahead of Salford City on the final day of the season last week.
In contrast, Walsall's season ended in heartbreaking fashion as their 1-0 win at Crewe Alexandra, a first since February, looked like being enough to see them go up automatically only for Bradford City to score in the final moments of time added on against Fleetwood Town to pip them to third.
The home side began on the front foot and enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the opening exchanges, as Simkin was called into action by Ryan Colclough's well-hit shot in the area.
However, the visitors won a penalty kick in one of their first real forays forward when Mandeville's attempt to cut out Allen's incisive into Gordon took out the Walsall man and Allen confidently scored from the spot.
That rocked Chesterfield and they fell further behind when Chang scored the first goal of his professional career after the hosts could only half clear Gordon's low ball into the middle.
Paul Cook's men, who are looking to win successive promotions having won the National League title last season, had the better of things after the break but the away side defended bravely and Stoke loanee Simkin did well when called upon.
The result means that of the five play-off first legs played so far not one has been won by the home side.
Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"They played their style better than we played ours. We weren't quite on it.
"I'm disappointed that we didn't give something for the crowd to get excited about but it would have felt a lot worse if they had gone and got a third.
"At 2-0 at half-time in front of 9-10,000 people we could have buckled and the players didn't. They stuck with it.
"We'll all give it the cliche that it's only half-time in the tie and we have to stick to that. We knew if we were 2-0 up today that if Walsall got the first goal after one minute in the next game then we're under pressure, same with them.
"A lot of the Walsall fans think they're there so let them think that. We have to go there and prove them wrong."
Walsall boss Mat Sadler told BBC WM:
"I thought we played well. We started a bit edgy but we grew into the game.
"There were some really good performances so I have to be pleased with that, but it's nothing yet because there's half of the game to go.
"The group never gives up and never feels sorry for itself. We're fighters and I thought that was a fighting performance from us today.
"I'm so pleased for Alfie [Chang]. I knew when we signed him where he was at with his recovery and we're seeing the benefits of him being fit now."
Manager: Paul Cook
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Mat Sadler
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Paul Cook
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Mat Sadler
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
League Two
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Chesterfield have won just one of their last seven games across all competitions against Walsall (D3 L3), a 2-0 home victory in August 2016 in League One.
Walsall have won only one of their last eight away games against Chesterfield in all competitions (D4 L3), a 4-1 victory in League One in March 2016.
Chesterfield finished the season unbeaten across their final six league games (W3 D3), while across their final 13 league games of the season only lost once (W8 D4).
Walsall ended the League Two season winning just one of their final 14 games (D8 L5), beating Crewe Alexandra 1-0 on the final day of the regular season. Â
This will be the fourth time that Chesterfield have participated in the Football League play-offs and first time since the 2014-2015 season. After progressing to the final in each of their first two campaigns (1989-90 & 1994-95), the Spireites lost at the semi-final stage 4-0 to Preston North End in their most recent appearance in 2014-15 in League One.
This will be Walsall’s fifth time in the Football League play-offs and first time since 2015-16 in League One, losing 6-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals to Barnsley. The only previous time they’ve been in the play-offs in the fourth tier was 1992-93, and were eliminated 9-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals against Crewe. Â
Only play-off semi-final opponents Walsall (75) scored more goals in League Two this season than Chesterfield (73) from an xG of 62.98, the fourth-biggest overperformance of any side in the league during the regular season (10.02).
Walsall scored more goals from set pieces than any other side in League Two during the regular season (25), with no player recording more goal involvements from set pieces than the Saddlers’ Taylor Allen (7 goals, 3 assists), including three direct free-kick goals.
