Chesterfield vs Notts County Prediction: Spireites set for first-leg success

Chesterfield meet Notts County in the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-final at the SMH Group Stadium on Sunday.

The Spireites finished sixth in the regular season, but Paul Cook’s men were only eight points off champions Bromley in a congested League Two table.

Notts County ended a point a place above Chesterfield in the four-tier standings, but ended the campaign in poor form and need the play-offs to spark a revival.

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Chesterfield Kyle McFadzean was taken off at half time against Swindon last weekend, but the defender is expected to be fit for the visit of Notts County.

Paul Cook isn’t dealing with any fresh injury concerns and the Spirerites are expected to bane an unchanged side for the third straight game.

Lewis Macari is out after picking up an injury in Notts County’s penultimate game of the League Two campaign, with Lucas Ness likely to deputise in defence.

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Chesterfield to win @ 11/10 

There was little to separate Chesterfield and Notts County in the League Two regular season, but the Spireites can take a first-leg playoff semi-final advantage at SMH Group Stadium.

Only a point was the difference between the two sides in the fourth tier this term, but County’s form tailed off at the end of the campaign and that has to be a big concern.

The Magpies won only three of their final eight games of the regular season and those victories came against relegated Harrogate, a poor Newport side and a Colchester outfit with little to play for.

Scoring goals became an issue for Martin Paterson’s men, who notched only three times in their final four games of the campaign. Chesterfield were 3-2 winners at Meadow Lane in March, the Spireites bossed a 2-0 home win in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day and a third victory over County awaits in Sunday’s first-leg playoff semi-final tie.

Lee Bonis to score first @ 9/2 

Lee Bonis finished the regular season with a flourish, scoring four times for Chesterfield in the final four games of the League Two campaign.

The 26-year-old delivered under pressure in contests against Swindon and Crewe, opening the scoring in both of those key promotion contests.

At 9/2, Bonis looks a nice price to repeat the trick in the first-leg clash with Notts County.

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