Salford City vs Chesterfield Predictions

• Salford City have won two of their last three games, both times with a clean sheet.
• Chesterfield are without several key players for this FA Cup trip to Salford.
• Only one of the last 11 Salford City league and FA Cup games has featured more than three goals.

Improving Salford can avoid a cup slip-up

Salford City will look to avoid a potential FA Cup banana skin when they take on National League leaders Chesterfield in Sunday’s televised second-round clash at the Peninsula Stadium.

The Spireites would have been many people’s fancy when the draw was made last month as the Ammies sat 19th in League Two and were just four points above the drop zone. But two wins and two draws from their last five have shot Gary Bowyer’s men up to 11th and eased some of the pressure on the Salford boss.

The return of goalkeeper Tom King from injury has further solidified a Salford defence that was among the best in the division anyway, but their main problem has been scoring enough goals. That’s why it’s probably worth taking the small odds boost in backing the home side to win with fewer than four in the match on Saturday.

Spireites’ priorities lie elsewhere

Spireites boss James Rowe is still without long-term casualties Haydn Hollis, Gavin Gunning, Laurence Maguire, George Carline and Tom Denton.

Jack Clarke is thought to be close to returning and could be involved this weekend, but Akwasi Asante and Joe Rowley are a couple of weeks away. Manny Oyeleke is a fresh doubt after being forced off at half-time in their 2-2 draw at Altrincham last time out.

Chesterfield’s priority this season is to secure a return to the Football League, so even though there is money and glory up for grabs on Sunday, we feel Salford have enough to secure their passage against a depleted Spireites side. A 2-1 home win appeals in correct score betting as Chesterfield rarely go anywhere without getting on the scoresheet.

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