Chesterfield 1 : 0 Walsall - Hird the hero for Spireites

A late Sam Hird header secured a 1-0 win which kept Chesterfield in the play-off picture and put Walsall in the scrap for Sky Bet League One survival.

A game short on quality and incident appeared to be heading for stalemate until Hird's header condemned the Saddlers to a defeat which leaves them only three points above the relegation zone.

Chesterfield had the first chance of the game which Ollie Banks headed over before Walsall's Jordan Cook shot just wide from 20 yards in the 23rd minute.

A strong wind was causing problems and Walsall goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell was almost caught out by a Gary Roberts cross, yet it was the visitors who almost took the lead midway through the second half.

Ben Purkiss got down the right and his cross was headed powerfully by Adam Chambers but Tommy Lee touched the ball onto the crossbar and Walsall struck the woodwork again when Jordy Hiwula hit the outside of a post from a tight angle.

But Hird settled a scrappy contest four minutes from time after he was left unmarked to head Jimmy Ryan's corner inside O'Donnell's left-hand post.