Walsall debrief: Form guide defied, prolific Taylor Allen, halfway to Wembley

It is hard to say it has not been an up-and-down season for Saddlers fans. At one stage, it looked like they had the League Two title in the bag, but they surrendered that lead and now find themselves doing it the hard way in the play-offs. 

Automatic promotion is always the aim, but is there a better way to get and celebrate promotion than on the hallowed turf of one of the best stadiums in the world in front of thousands and thousands of your fans? 

Walsall, if they avoid defeat on Friday night, could find out. 

They produced a battling performance on the road against the Spireites to lead 2-0 in the first leg of their play-off doubleheader. 

It was a cauldron of an atmosphere in Derbyshire, and now Walsall will welcome Paul Cook’s side to Bescot on Friday for the return leg, knowing that with a positive result, they have booked their place at Wembley on May 26. 

Form guide defied on the opening leg 

When the two sides arrived at the SMH Group Stadium, you could not blame any Saddlers fans who were pessimistic about their team’s chances. 

Walsall had won just one of their last 14 matches, and that had only come in their last outing against Crewe. 

Whereas the Spireites had lost just one of their last 13 games, the two-goal win defied all logic for Mat Sadler and his team. 

The Saddlers showed tremendous resilience to bounce back a week after missing out on automatic promotion to take advantage in the tie. 

Taylor Allen in the goals again

Most strikers would be happy to get into double figures over the course of a campaign, but for a defender to do it is even more impressive, albeit he is the penalty taker. 

He got his just rewards to open the scoring on Sunday as it was his incisive forward pass in behind the Chesterfield defence that led to Liam Mandeville dragging down Walsall wing-back Liam Gordon.  

There was a great atmosphere inside the SMH Group Stadium, and the 24-year-old would have no doubt been feeling the pressure as he waited to make his mark from 12 yards. 

But he struck it beautifully, and it nestled right into the corner. He revealed after the game, he knew which way the keeper was going to dive. 

Halfway to Wembley Way

As American singer Jon Bon Jovi would say, ‘Oh, we’re halfway there’ - that is what Saddlers fans will feel right now. 

But after the way this season has panned out, taking advantage of a big lead has not always been their greatest strength, so you can forgive any nerves heading into Friday. 

Paul Cook vowed that his side ‘will be back’ so Walsall cannot expect Chesterfield to roll over. They were not at their best on Sunday, so you would expect a response at the bare minimum. It is going to be a stern test at Bescot on Friday evening, but at least they will have a packed-out home following behind them.