Scott Laird nets winner for Walsall

Scott Laird's close-range strike moved Walsall up to eighth in League One and their 1-0 win sent second-bottom Chesterfield a step closer to the drop.Defender Laird's fourth goal of the season early in the second half pushed the Saddlers to within six points of the play-offs and kept Chesterfield eight points adrift of safety.Only a fine display from veteran stopper Thorsten Stuckmann prevented the Spireites from suffering a heavier defeat.He spread himself well to stop Isaiah Osbourne poking home from 12 yards after 25 minutes before Chesterfield's best effort saw Kristian Dennis' rocket fly straight at Walsall goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.Stuckmann made another good stop after 37 minutes, a strong one-handed diving save preventing Kieron Morris' 18-yard shot finding the bottom corner after a fine solo run.And the 35-year-old was at it again five minutes later, getting another strong hand to Simeon Jackson's near-post strike after an error from Spireites skipper Ian Evatt.Stuckmann was helpless for Walsall's 53rd-minute goal, though, as James O'Connor glanced on Erhun Oztumer's near-post corner and Laird bundled home from close range.A Morris 20-yarder was then foiled by another Stuckmann save, but Walsall comfortably held on to claim all three points.