Chesterfield 2 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

Chesterfield's decision to sign Ched Evans might sit uncomfortably with many yet the striker guarantees goals and notched two more, to take his campaign tally to four already, to decide a game which might otherwise have ended in stalemate.

The frustration for Walsall and manager Jon Whitney will have been the inability to make the most several chances of their own during a first half in which they were the better side. Record signing Andreas Makris hit the bar, while Franck Moussa performed admirably yet neither was able to provide the moment of magic to make a difference.

How Whitney must wish he still had Tom Bradshaw to call on, or even some more fortune with injuries. For sure, fate is not helping the manager in moulding his new-look team.

After a summer of change at the Banks's Stadium, Whitney is yet to name the same side twice and three of the four changes made to the starting line-up at the Proact Stadium were enforced.

Rico Henry's absence was expected and the 19-year-old was replaced at left-back by Joe Edwards, with Matt Preston coming into the side in central defence.

Yet the Saddlers were also without midfielder Isaiah Osbourne and Erhun Oztumer, the latter of whom had failed to shake-off a back injury sustained at Boundary Park.

With Adam Chambers missing for the second successive game, it meant meant a start in midfield for West Ham loanee Dobson alongside Kinsella, while Makris was handed a full debut in place of Oztumer.

Whitney's only tactical change a recall for Kieron Morris on the wing, with Florent Cuvelier dropping to a bench which also included youth teamer Callum Cockerill-Mollett.

Despite the changes, there were plenty of positives, most noably in a bright first half performance in which the Saddlers posed a constant threat on the counter. Ultimately, they were made to pay for their lack of cutting edge.

The Saddlers lack of a recognised left-back had clearly been identified by Chesterfield Danny Wilson as a possible weak spot and Spireites winger Gboly Ariyibi proved a menace in the early exchanges. Only good awareness from stand-in skipper James O'Connor, cutting out a low cross, prevented the winger from providing Ched Evans with a tap-in six yards out.

Whitney's men were far from under the cosh however and almost grabbed the lead on the ten minute mark, with Makris inches away from a first Saddlers goal. A long ball from the back was flicked on by Jackson and the Cypriot international was suddenly in the clear, taking one touch to turn inside centre-half Ian Evatt before curling a finish which beat home keeper Ryan Fulton but crashed back off the bar.

Both sides traded opportunities, with Franck Moussa firing just over for the Saddlers after Chesterfield had failed to clear a McCarthy cross.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Preston was a relieved man when Etheridge pulled off a stunning save to deny Jay O'Shea, after the young centre-back had been robbed off possession in the box by the eager Evans.

Otherwise, the hosts were finding it tough to get past a stubborn Saddlers backline and instead it was the visitors who looked dangerous on the break with Moussa in particular looking keen to terrorise the home defence every time he got the ball.

McCarthy came within inches of being an unlikely scorer when he took a crossfield ball from Edwards in stride and pulled a left-footed shot just wide of the upright, with Fulton scrambling across goal.

Morris also drilled an effort just over the bar from outside the box, while Ariyibi lifted a shot into the side-netting on a rare occasion the hosts found a way past the visiting defence.

The hosts were far brighter at the start of the second period and Ian Evatt planted a header inches wide of the post after escaping the attentions of Preston at a corner. A timely challenge from Edwards was then required to deny Evans, just as the striker looked set to pull the trigger.

It wasn't until the hour mark until the Saddlers threatened again and the attack ended disappointingly, with Morris shooting weakly at Fulton. Almost immediately the hosts broke and only a strong challenge from O'Connor prevented Ariyibi from having a tap-in, after Etheridge had parried a powerful Evans drive.

The keeper was needed again soon after to palm away a rasping drive from the same player as Chesterfield continued to ask some tough questions of the visiting defence.

Ironically, the breakthrough arrived just when it appeared the Saddlers had weathered the storm. A hopeful ball from the back was mis-controlled by Dobson and fell kindly at the feet of Evans. The striker still had O'Connor ahead of him but opted against taking the defender on and instead unleashed a strike from 20 yards out which flew past Etheridge and into the net in the blink of an eye.

Three minutes later, the striker had a second to put the result beyond doubt, thanks in no small part to a huge deflection which saw his his shot loop off Preston and over a helpless Etheridge.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1): Fulton, McGinn, Hird, Evatt, Donohue, Liddle ©, Nolan, Ariyibi, O'Shea, Gardner, Evans (Simons 90) Subs not used: Mitchell, Raglan, Dimaio, Dennis, Daly, Allinson (gk).

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Etheridge, Edwards, O'Connor (c), Preston, McCarthy, Dobson (Bakayoko 77), Kinsella, Morris (Kouhyar 85), Makris, Moussa (Cuvelier 69), Jackson Subs not used: Ginnelly, Roberts, Cockerill-Mollett, MacGillivray (gk).