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[monks data]
Halifax Town
National League | Gameweek 56
May 29, 2021 at 12.30pm UK
 
Chesterfield

Halifax
1 - 2
Chesterfield

FT(HT: 1-1)
Mandeville (14'), Tyson (79')
Whittle (68'), Maguire (90+4')

Preview: Halifax Town vs. Chesterfield - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's National League clash between Halifax Town and Chesterfield, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

With a shot at the playoffs still a possibility for both sides, Halifax Town play host to Chesterfield on the final day of the National League season on Saturday lunchtime.

The hosts stayed within touching distance of the top seven following a 2-1 win at Maidenhead United last weekend, while Chesterfield boosted their own chances with victory over Dagenham & Redbridge by the same scoreline.


Match preview

Halifax Town manager Pete Wild in 2019© Reuters

It may be a classic case of too little too late for Halifax when it comes to their promotion bid, as a spate of losses in the spring has threatened to derail their chances of pushing for a spot in the top seven and a place in the playoff quarter-finals.

Pete Wild's side had lost three of their last four before travelling to an out-of-form Maidenhead in gameweek 41, but they managed to get back on track and keep their promotion bid alive with a 2-1 win over Alan Devonshire's side last time out, as Jake Hyde and Jeff King struck before Danilo Orsi bagged a consolation for the 10-man hosts.

As a result, it is not impossible for 10th-placed Halifax to usurp some of their rivals and secure a playoff berth, but their destiny is out of their own hands as Eastleigh and Bromley sit one point clear in eighth and ninth respectively, so Wild will need results to go his way while his side try to do their talking on the pitch.

Halifax suffered playoff heartbreak against Boreham Wood last year, but another less-than-positive home result this weekend would kill off any faint hopes of a second shot with the big boys, and Wild's side welcome Chesterfield to The Shay having lost four of their last six on familiar territory.

General view outside the Proact Stadium on October 10, 2015© Reuters

In contrast, Chesterfield's fate is in their own hands, as Saturday's visitors occupy the seventh and final spot in the playoff places before the final day of a season like none other.

James Rowe's side also experienced several blips in the month of April to rule them out of contention for a top-three finish, but they have since recovered with 10 points taken from the last 12 on offer, including a 2-1 success over Dagenham & Redbridge last time out.

Liam Gordon drew first blood for Dagenham just before the hour mark last Saturday, but a brace from Danny Rowe - including a penalty in the 87th minute - ensured that Chesterfield kept the wind in their sails and more importantly, a spot in the top seven.

Indeed, the visitors to The Shay are clinging on tight to that final playoff place, and they could still leapfrog Wrexham in sixth, but anything less than a win here would either open the door for Halifax or allow Eastleigh and Bromley the chance to snatch a last-minute spot in the next round.

Rowe's men travel to Halifax having won six of their last eight fifth-tier games on the road, but the hosts have come up trumps in the last three meetings between the two sides, including a 2-1 win at Chesterfield last month.

Halifax Town National League form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W

Chesterfield National League form:
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W



Team News

Halifax midfielder Danny Williams serves the third and final game of a three-match suspension after his sending off versus Boreham Wood, so Jack Senior will continue to feature on the left.

Fellow midfielder Jack Earing is unlikely to play again before the campaign concludes, and it remains to be seen if striker Jamie Allen will be passed fit after a shoulder issue.

Wild should opt to stick with the same winning formula from their win at Maidenhead, though, as Hyde goes in search of his 13th league goal of the season.

Chesterfield welcomed Curtis Weston and Gavin Gunning back to the fold last time out despite concerns over their fitness, and a full week between matches should allow both players ample time to recover before going again.

However, left-back Alex Whittle was nowhere to be seen against Dagenham, but Joel Taylor is fine and ready to deputise on that side.

Tom Whelan could earn a start in midfield if Weston's Achilles problem flares up again, but other than that it should be as you were for the visitors.

Halifax Town possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Maher, Byrne, Clarke; King, Woods, Green, Summerfield, Senior; Hyde, Stephenson

Chesterfield possible starting lineup:
Montgomery; Maguire, Evans, Gunning; Carline, Clarke, Weston, Oyeleke, Taylor; Rowe, Mandeville


SM words green background

We say: Halifax Town 2-2 Chesterfield

With both sides enjoying the rare luxury of a full week off before the final day of the season, the two managers have had plenty of time to come up with a winning formula for their respective playoff pushes.

The hosts simply have to go for goals lest they risk missing out entirely, but Chesterfield are a force to be reckoned with on the road, so we expect an exciting affair between two sets of fresh legs to end all square as the teams learn their playoff fates.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Chesterfield win with a probability of 43.35%. A win for Halifax Town had a probability of 30.54% and a draw had a probability of 26.1%.

The most likely scoreline for a Chesterfield win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.68%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.92%) and 0-2 (7.67%). The likeliest Halifax Town win was 1-0 (8.65%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.41%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with an 8.9% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Chesterfield would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Halifax vs Chesterfield

Halifax Town
31.3%
Draw
33.3%
Chesterfield
35.4%
48
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chesterfield413056100554595
2Barnet402351277532474
3Bromley401913862441870
4Gateshead401991282572566
5Solihull MoorsSolihull411812116457766
6AltrinchamAltrincham4118101377581964
7Aldershot TownAldershot40197146970-164
8Halifax TownHalifax391711115044662
9Oldham AthleticOldham401515105750760
10Southend UnitedSouthend4118111260392155
11Rochdale401510156459555
12Dagenham & RedbridgeDag & Red411311175854450
13Fylde411310186874-649
14Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool40147196074-1449
15Woking41139194249-748
16WealdstoneWealdstone381211155159-847
17Ebbsfleet39138185566-1147
18Eastleigh401211176781-1447
19York City411016155065-1546
20Maidenhead UnitedMaidenhead401112174458-1445
21Boreham WoodBoreham Wood401014164965-1644
22Kidderminster HarriersKidderminster411013183548-1343
23Dorking WanderersDorking40126224773-2642
24Oxford CityOxford City4178265187-3629


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