‘Fighting performance’ - Mat Sadler reacts after Walsall take the advantage in play-off opener

Having won just one of their last 14 League Two matches, and after narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to League One last week after Bradford scored a late goal to break their hearts. 

The Saddlers dusted themselves off to put one foot in the League Two play-off final at Wembley after a superb away day performance to beat the Spireites 2-0 in Derbyshire.

“I have got an unbelievable group,” Sadler said, reflecting on the match. “We have had that all season, and I have had that in every single game. 

“When maybe we had not won games, we were on top in a hell of a lot of games. Sometimes the rub of the green goes the other way. 

“What my group does, and what our group does - they never give up. 

"We never feel sorry for ourselves. I have said it before, and I will say it again, we are fighters. We are not victims of anything, and we will keep fighting. 

“I thought that was a fighting performance from us. 

“We had to do it in loads of different ways. I think our defence were rock solid at times, but as a team we were really resolute and connected. 

“When you come up against Paul Cook’s Chesterfield team or any team led by him, they will test you in loads of different ways because he knows what he is doing. He is a fantastic manager and person. 

“We have to get ready now for what will be another completely different game on Friday night.”  

Taylor Allen gave Walsall the lead just before the half-hour mark in the match, his 11th of the season, from the penalty spot. 

Six minutes before the break, Alfie Chang, with his first senior goal, doubled Walsall’s advantage with a thumping strike. 

And despite a few heart-in-mouth moments in the second half, the Saddlers now take a two-goal advantage back to Bescot for the second leg on Friday night. 

"I thought we played well,” Sadler continued. “I thought we started a little bit edgily, and then grew into the game. 

“Listen, we have got a young team, and these experiences that we are going through together are very valuable for everyone for the careers they are going to move forward with. 

“That was another one, in a fantastic cauldron, and arena for football. It was a sell-out crowd, everyone was on top of their game, so we knew we were going to have that period of settling, so when we did that, I thought we really got into the game to exploit some of the areas we wanted to. 

“That was pleasing. There were some really good performances, so of course, you have to be pleased with that, but it is going to be layered with the next sentence. It is nothing yet, we have half a game to go.”