Walsall 1 Chesterfield 2 - Report and pictures

Walsall dropped to second in League One after falling to a 2-1 home defeat to Chesterfield at the Banks's Stadium.

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In the week that saw boss Dean Smith pen a new contract, goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Ian Evatt gave Dean Saunders side a two-goal lead.

Matt Preston then pulled one back in stoppage time for the Saddlers after Sam Mantom and Adam Chambers both saw strikes cannon off the post.

But Smith's side were unable to extend their unbeaten six-game league run with a defeat for Burton and a draw for Bury meaning they remain in the automatic promotion places.

With James O'Connor failing to recover from a groin injury, boss Smith gave a first league start to 20-year-old centre-back Preston.

There was also recalls for goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and wing-back Jason Demetriou following their return from international duty.

It meant Craig MacGillivray and Liam Kinsella were the unlucky men to make way, with Smith sticking to 3-5-2 system.

For Chesterfield, former Wolves and Ipswich striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake started up front.

Safe in the knowledge their manager had committed his future to the club, Walsall came flying out the traps and almost took the lead inside two minutes.

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A swift counter saw Romaine Sawyers find Tom Bradshaw with the striker taking the ball into the box before firing a shot from an acute angle that was parried away by Tommy Lee.

Minutes later though and The Spireites were ahead. Chris Herd galloped down the right-flank and whipped in a ball that was too easily headed into the top corner by an unmarked Ebanks-Blake.

Walsall were finding the opening 20 minutes with tough with lots of uncharacteristic long-balls playing into the hands of Saunders' side.

But their passing game eventually began to take hold, with Andy Taylor and Bradshaw both seeing shots blocked before Rico Henry fired agonisingly wide from 20-yards.

The momentum was now all with Smith's side and they came a whisker away from pulling level just before the half hour mark.

Excellent inter-play between Paul Downing, Mantom and Demetriou saw the wing-back deliver a teasing low cross.

And it was met on the half-turn by Bradshaw whose arrowed drive to the bottom corner was spectacularly saved by Lee.

Undeterred, Walsall continued to come forward and they came inches away from pulling level once more when an outrageous Sawyers flick teed up Mantom on the edge of the box.

The midfielder hit a rasping strike which saw Lee produce another outstanding stop to push the ball onto the post. Seconds later and Reece Flanagan just failed to connect with another Demetriou cross.

Walsall continued to press for the rest of the half, but they saw too many moves break down to sloppy passing or last-gasp Chesterfield defending.

Smith made his first change at the break with striker Jordan Cook replacing Flanagan.

And the move almost proved to be an inspired one with Cook laying the ball back to Adam Chambers who hit a shot that took a deflection and cannoned off the post.

Chesterfield responded with Ebanks-Blake breaking into the box with Neil Etheridge getting down well to smoother at his feet to force a corner – with the keeper then receiving lengthy treatment.

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And from the resultant set-piece, Chesterfield doubled their advantage with Ian Evatt thumping in a header from Dan Gardner's whipped in delivery.

The goal meant Walsall had conceded twice in the league for the first time this season.

And things then went from bad to worse when Mantom took a nasty knock of the edge of his own box.

The midfielder, who missed the vast majority of last season with a knee injury, had to be stretched from the field of play having hurt his left leg and was replaced by Milan Lalkovic.

In need of a goal and with Chesterfield sitting deep, Walsall looked to force the issue with a low Henry drive sailing just past the post with 20 minutes remaining.

Smith made his final change with Kieron Morris coming on for Taylor and the winger immediately went close when the ball fell to him in the box but his strike was comfortably saved by Lee.

Morris was proving lively and he again went close when he danced into the box and saw a strike blocked for a corner.

Chesterfield had started time wasting with over a quarter of an hour remaining, but as they sat deep Walsall found clear cut chances hard to come by.

But Lalkovic came close with a curled strike from the edge of the box just failing to find the top corner.

And with the fourth official indicating six minutes added time, Walsall managed to give themselves a lifeline.

A cross into the box was powerfully headed against the crossbar by Cook but the ball fell kindly to Preston who lashed home.

The Saddlers then went onto desperately press for an equaliser but couldn't find another breakthrough.