League Two
Chesterfield can take upper hand in League Two play-offs
The play-offs are some of the most exciting games English football has to offer and William Hill News are on hand to preview the first leg of the League Two clashes.
The old cliché that you can’t win it, but you can lose it, rings true here, as neither side will want to throw away a great chance at taking another step towards promotion to English football’s third tier.
Chesterfield vs Notts County
The later game on Sunday evening sees sixth-place finishers Chesterfield host fifth-place finishers Notts County in the first leg of their play-off semi-final. Both teams have shown fine form through the season to get to this point and neither will want to slip up now.
Chesterfield get the home advantage first up and the SMH Group Stadium has been somewhat of a fortress this season, so this is set to be a tight clash.
Play-off semi-final first leg prediction:
Chesterfield 2-1 Notts County
Chesterfield vs Notts County – Sunday, 6.00pm
Chesterfield – 11/10
Draw – 9/4
Notts County – 23/10
Chesterfield head into this one having clinched their sixth-place finish on the final day of the season, picking up all three points at home to leapfrog Grimsby after The Mariners were held to a draw by Tranmere.
Their form could hardly me much better, with the Spireites unbeaten in in their last eight matches, winning six of those. The head-to-head form leads in the home side’s favour as well as they beat Notts County 3-2 away from home last time the two teams met, building on their 2-0 home win earlier in the season.
Chesterfield’s strong end-of-season form has been as a result of a strong team dynamic, with a solid backline, creative midfield and direct attack all linking well to produce results.
The glue in the middle of all that has been Sammy Braybrooke who, having joined on loan from Leicester in January after impressing in the first half of the season with Newport County, has added another dimension in the middle of the park. Those performances saw him earn a spot as Chesterfield’s only player in the League Two Team of the Season.
Equally important has been the link up between Liam Mandeville, who has registered 11 assists this season, and Lee Bonis, who has found the back of the net on 13 occasions. If they can keep it up in the latter stages, they could fire their side to Wembley.
Notts County have a tough task on their hands here but they’re not without a chance. Alassana Jatta and Matthew Dennis have been the jewels in their crown, registering a combined 29 goals between them this season. They will be crucial if the Magpies are to take a positive result back to Meadow Lane.
Notts County are more than capable of getting the ball in the back of the net here, but coming out of it with a draw or a win will be tricky. Chesterfield look well set to head into the second leg with the advantage.
