Notts County entertain Chesterfield in the second leg of their Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Semi-Final tie.
With a slender 1-0 aggregate lead after the first leg, victory or a draw would see Notts County advance to the League Two Play-Off Final, which will take place at Wembley Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May at 3pm.
Chesterfield must win by two clear goals to overturn their aggregate deficit and progress to an EFL Play-Off Final for the third time in their history.
Team News
Notts County have no fresh injury concerns to report following the first leg.
Lewis Macari (leg), Matty Platt (ACL) and Harald Tangen (unspecified) remain absent.
Chesterfield will be without Armando Dobra for the remainder of the play-offs after he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the first leg.
Bailey Hobson is still ruled out with a hamstring injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Notts County host Chesterfield at Meadow Lane on Friday 15 May at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports + in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Notts County won their only previous EFL Play-Off match against Chesterfield, which came away in a 1-0 victory in the first leg of this play-off semi-final tie.
- Chesterfield are making their first EFL Play-Off visit to Notts County, but have won three of their last five EFL visits to the Magpies (W3, L2).
- None of Notts County’s last nine home matches against Chesterfield in all competitions have ended in a draw, of which the Magpies won four of those clashes to Chesterfield’s five victories.
- Notts County have won all three of their second-leg matches at home in EFL Play-Offs without conceding (W3); having beaten Bolton 2-0 in 1990 then Middlesbrough and Crewe Alexandra by 1-0 results in 1991 and 1996 respectively.
- Chesterfield have won just one of their three previous EFL Play-Off semi-final second legs played away from home (W1, L2).
Prediction
With a slender lead after one moment of clinical play towards Chesterfield’s left post midway through the first half of a cagey first leg, Notts County now need to try and ideally defend their lead or score first to reduce the pressure as this tie is now in their own hands.
Chesterfield though simply have to get on the attacking front foot from the first whistle and just try to get that first goal which will mentally give them extra motivation, especially if can get an early lead as it then forces County to come out and attack more if want to regain their aggregate lead.
Either way this tie is firmly poised and I personally think that the opening goal will be key, especially given that County view Chesterfield’s wide positions at the back posts as their weakness, so I expect a tough battle but County should sneak through on aggregate.
Prediction: Notts County 1-1 Chesterfield