91Èȱ¬

Sam Hird's late header kept Chesterfield in the play-off picture and left Walsall in the scrap for League One survival.

The home team had the first chance through Ollie Banks's header, before Walsall's Jordan Cook shot wide from 20 yards.

The Saddlers twice hit the woodwork after the interval but Hird settled a scrappy contest four minutes from time.

Jimmy Ryan's corner found Hird unmarked and he headed inside O'Donnell's post.

Chesterfield sit ninth in the League One table, two points off the play-off places, while Walsall are now just three points above the relegation zone.

Chesterfield manager Paul Cook told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Sheffield:

"Football's a tough world. It wasn't a good game and it was a tough game for supporters to watch.

"Walsall probably deserved a draw for their organisation and their work ethic, but sometimes you don't get what you deserve. We were victims of that last weekend at Peterborough.

"My players might disappoint in certain aspects, but they don't disappoint in honesty and effort, and that was there in abundance today."