Kyle McFadzean calls Walsall ‘cheats’ after Chesterfield fall to a 2-0 defeat in the League Two playoff semi final 1st leg.
Goals from Taylor Allen (penalty) and Alfie Chang, while Chesterfield struggled to convert chances despite efforts from players like Ryan Colclough and Tom Naylor.
McFadzean took issue with the timewasting, with criticism also aimed at Walsall goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, who got stick form the home fans for much of the game, after he went down in the first half, with McFadzean challenged referee Martin Coy, who indicated he could do little without a rule change.
LISTEN | Chesterfield defender Kyle McFadzean on the 2-0 defeat to Walsall in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.
The Spireites head to the Bescot Stadium for the second leg on Friday night.
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— Football Heaven (@footballheaven) May 11, 2025
“There needs to be something done about their goalkeeper wasting so much time and just going down when they went,” McFadzean said to BBC Radio Sheffield.
“There needs to be a rule for that. I just thought it was cheating. We were putting them under pressure and he (Simkin) just decided to go down.
“It definitely needs to get sorted out because when we are putting teams under pressure, it is basically a time-out.
“It is not fair, it is cheating to be honest. I asked him (Coy) about it and he can’t do anything about it. It is not good enough, you can’t just go down and waste time.”
He added: “We huffed and puffed but they defended the box really well.
“They made good blocks and the keeper made a couple of good saves.
“We have got to stick together. There is a lot of football to be played. 90 minutes is a long time. If we can get that first goal, it is massive. I just wish the game was sooner.
“We can’t go there and just give it away straight away. We have got to go there and build our way into it and hopefully we get the first goal and see what happens. It is not over.”
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook:
“You have to say well done to Walsall, they’ll come away thinking it’s a very good performance.
“We huffed and we puffed without ever looking convincing. But we’ll lick our wounds, go away and we come back and go again on Friday night.
“We’ll do our best to come back into the tie, and it’s not over yet. We’re agitated and not very happy, but the next goal is massive. If we can score the next goal we’re right back in it.”
Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb told BBC Radio Sheffield:
“They played their style better than we played ours. We weren’t quite on it.
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t give something for the crowd to get excited about but it would have felt a lot worse if they had gone and got a third.
“At 2-0 at half-time in front of 9-10,000 people we could have buckled and the players didn’t. They stuck with it.
“We’ll all give it the cliche that it’s only half-time in the tie and we have to stick to that. We knew if we were 2-0 up today that if Walsall got the first goal after one minute in the next game then we’re under pressure, same with them.
“A lot of the Walsall fans think they’re there so let them think that. We have to go there and prove them wrong.”
Walsall boss Mat Sadler, per Sky Sports:
“I just said to the players that it was a good performance and we’re pleased, but now we’ve got to go and work even harder on Friday.
“They’re a very good team and got incredible players throughout the squad, and the manager is a top manager. You know you’ll come under spells where you have to dig in and suffer. Then there were other spells where we got our opportunities.
“We’re pleased to be ahead, but it means nothing yet. We’re halfway through the tie. We rest, recover and go again.”
Walsall boss Mat Sadler told BBC WM:
“I thought we played well. We started a bit edgy but we grew into the game.
“There were some really good performances so I have to be pleased with that, but it’s nothing yet because there’s half of the game to go.
“The group never gives up and never feels sorry for itself. We’re fighters and I thought that was a fighting performance from us today.
“I’m so pleased for Alfie [Chang]. I knew when we signed him where he was at with his recovery and we’re seeing the benefits of him being fit now.”
“Credit to Mat and his team, but we’ll be back.”
Paul Cook shares his thoughts on the referee’s decision to award a penalty to Walsall 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5jfxxQKuUi
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 11, 2025
“I’m delighted for him…”
Mat Salder on Alfie Chang’s FIRST senior goal! 👏 pic.twitter.com/nZv2JTj5HL
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 11, 2025
“We know what’s at stake, we had to put in that performance.”
Taylor Allen and Alfie Chang reflect on a dominant display against Chesterfield 👏 pic.twitter.com/rAha8IqLeK
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 11, 2025
This is how fans reacted as Kyle McFadzean calls Walsall ‘cheats’ after Chesterfield fall to a 2-0 defeat in the League Two playoff semi final 1st leg….
@bigcratch: Was bang at it in the game at the Poundland – got Bim Pepple booked – same today – went down on 30 mins – then again when it looked like we were on the attack from a corner – unprofessional unsportsmanlike – clearly a tactic-
@MMelville9: He did exactly the same in the league game at Walsall, the refs just aren’t quick enough to react to it.
@andyb861: Their goalkeeper was shocking from a neutral fan.
@OliverCrowther4: Good on McFadz for calling it out
@Dazzapass: Yeah , yeah. Doesn’t talk about the cheating his own team mates were doing. All about our keeper……… Suggest you watch the match again you bellend.
@zga_1997: It’s frustrating when you’re on the receiving end of it but come on, every single team on the planet wastes time when they’re winning
@edward_w97: These kind of comments fuel hypocrisy. It’s always perfectly fine if you do it yourself, criminal if it’s done against you. One of McFadzean’s specialties at Burton was diving to win free-kicks when under pressure in his own half. This man is well aware that dark arts win games…
@tommachin31: I think there’s dark arts and then there’s the amount of time keepers are allowed to waste. Particularly the trend for team x being under pressure, goalkeeper goes down, whole team head over to the manager for a tactical rejig, keeper is better and stays on – that feels unfair
@dcfcfanjrb: He makes a good point, the GK goes down every game because they don’t have to leave the field of play like the outfielders. Make them leave the field of play the second time they receive treatment in a game, you won’t see them go down again unless they’re actually hurt
@saddler_andy: Ah the hypocrisy of the shoe being on the other foot. EVERY team time wastes when they’re winning, not for the player to stop because the opposition is upset… KM also dived when there was a cross he wasn’t going to reach, in the first half. Grow up. You’re 38.
@MarcRiggan: Finally some sense, it will happen in every single game up and down the country week in week out, it’s frustrating when it’s against you, but when it’s for you, it’s glorious..
@liamb0798: I don’t disagree – but while the laws are there to make it illegal yet officials aren’t tight enough on it, i’d say it’s justified to complain about it. We scored vs Walsall this season about 20 seconds after Simkin attempted to claim he had cramp and quickly shot up again!
@SaddlersSite: Cheating also covers the pathetic theatrics of Naylor and Dobra whenever somebody breathed near them 👍🏻
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— The Saddlers Side (@TheSaddlersSide) May 11, 2025
https://t.co/2BdGPGm6O3 pic.twitter.com/sl1yPlfzqw
— Tom H (@tomhateley01) May 12, 2025
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— Jack (@WFCBagnall) May 11, 2025
up the cheating reds 👍👍👍 https://t.co/y1j2Qg764J pic.twitter.com/Au9U3hdk1V
— Jamie 🐊 (@WFCJamie2) May 11, 2025
