Match Preview: Chester FC v Salford City

Chester FC return to the Deva Stadium, after 80 days away, on Saturday for a pre-season test against EFL League Two outfit Salford City.

Calum McIntyre’s side were successful against the gaffer’s former club in midweek, picking up a 2-1 win over Runcorn Linnets.

Oskar Rosenblatt grabbed the opener with a clever finish just after the half-hour mark before Connor Woods netted the winner with a stunning volley off a trademark Declan Weeks cross.

Saturday’s clash with the Ammies will be our third in preparation for 25/26, after we started the campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Bury FC at Gigg Lane.

The Opposition

After a meteoric rise from the eighth tier to the fourth tier in just five seasons between 2014-2019, Salford’s upward trajectory has stalled in recent years and the club are now in preparation for their seventh consecutive campaign in League Two.

The 24/25 season was one of progress as the Ammies moved from 20th to 8th in the division, as Karl Robinson’s side missed out on a play-off spot by a sole point to Chesterfield.

The involvement of the Class of 92 in the club has seen attendances rise from an average of 117 in the 12/13 season to 2,841 in 24/25, figures that show growth of 2326.5% in a 12-year period.

Salford have been busy in the transfer window to date and have brought the likes of Jorge Grant, Adebola Oluwo and Jay Bird to the Peninsula Stadium.

The Gaffer

Experienced boss Karl Robinson has been at the helm since January 2024 and has had a positive impact on the club after their aforementioned 23/24 campaign that underwhelmed supporters.

Despite only being 44, Robinson has been in first-team management since 2010 and coaching all the way back to the year 2000.

Liverpool-born, the boss got his first chance in the hot seat at MK Dons, where he took charge of 346 games over a six-year period that yielded the club’s only ever stint in England’s second tier.

18 months with Charlton Athletic, five years at Oxford United and a brief spell as Assistant Manager under Sam Allardyce at Leeds United followed before he made the switch to Salford in early 2024.

Match Details

Kick-off as 15:00 at the Deva Stadium on Saturday.

Chester FC supporters will be in the East Stand for both games, with our respective visitors in Blocks J-M of the West Stand.