Chesterfield's Paul Cook warns Walsall fans to be ‘careful what you wish for’ as he backs boss Mat Sadler
Paul Cook has shown his support for the man who will be in the opposition dugout on Saturday.
Cook and Walsall manager Mat Sadler will be rivals on the touchline this weekend but both have great respect for each other. The pair spoke glowingly about each other last season and in the reverse fixture earlier in this campaign.
Sadler’s Walsall did not lose to Chesterfield in four attempts last season, including in the play-offs, and they beat them 1-0 in September. If Town could end that run then they would only be one point behind them in the league table but the Blues boss knows they have a tough challenge on their hands.
"Tomorrow is going to be a massive game for us,” Cook said. “Walsall have got our number, everyone knows that, Mat Sadler knows that. I know that. But it doesn’t stop us from trying to beat them in front of a crowd which will be great numbers and I want them to really get behind us tomorrow. We all know how difficult it is to beat Walsall and tomorrow will be no different.”
Walsall topped League Two for the first-half of last season and were miles clear but they faded and ended up in the play-offs where they beat Chesterfield over two legs in the semi-finals but lost to AFC Wimbledon 1-0 at Wembley in the final.
This season has followed a similar pattern, with Walsall again leading the way before a run of one win in five has seen them drop to sixth. However, Cook is a big fan of Sadler and he has come to his defence.
He said: “Walsall fans don’t seem to be happy, do they? They need to be quite careful what they are wishing for because they have got one of the brightest young coaches in the game, yet they are quite unhappy, so I am sure they will get what they want one day, if that is the case, and I am sure that Walsall will not be as good a club if that day was to ever come.”