Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Chesterfield 1 Tranmere Rovers 1

League Two Game #42

Whilst you cry into your Cornflakes, just remember that both the play–offs and promotion are still in our own hands. Our grip may be a little bit looser than it was before kick–off time on Saturday, but four games ago that same grip was so loose, that we were not in control of our own destiny. Perk up everyone, ups and downs this season have been our modus operandi. There’ll be more to come.

In the last few weeks, Paul Cook‘s side may not have been at its best, maybe not even anywhere near its best, but ten points from four games is a reward that, if repeated over the next few weeks, will almost certainly be sufficient to extend the season. Grimsby Town on Tuesday is key. One point (which isn’t enough) will see the team hit 70 points, the tally achieved last season after 46 games.

The game against Tranmere Rovers was undoubtedly a shock to the system, nothing like any of us expected. The visitors came into the game on a terrible run of form, without a goal in 7.5 hours, with the methodology of how to win all but forgotten. But last April, when they were third bottom and we were sailing, they handed out a 4-0 thumping.

At Prenton Park, deep into stoppage time this season, our fans were belting out Sailing when Omari Patrick levelled things up, a perfect illustration of our Achilles heel, leading but not winning, 21 points now dropped from winning positions.

The first five minutes look good. Two corners, crisp passing, confidence there. Then all of a sudden, the Merseyside based visitors flicked a switch, they were turned on, the Spireites’ light was extinguished.

Pete Wild’s side looked far from relegation threatened, but far from the division’s best, but their profligacy in front of goal was clear for all to see. A sitter missed, a penalty magnificently saved by Ryan Boot, diving fully to his left to palm away equaliser man Patrick’s 12-yarder. Maybe that was signalling that Chesterfields luck was going to be in. Sadly not.

The spot kick was awarded after two men got behind Kyle McFadzean, both fell to the floor and referee. Seb Stockbridge decided that at least one of the Rovers players had been shoved over. Penalty awarded, yellow for the man who’s excelled in the last three 1-0 wins.

The last two penalties conceded by Town were both saved by Zach Hemming, Joe Garner at Oldham and Nicke Kabamba at home to Bromley, both late on, both games ending in draws. Omen.

This time it was time for Boot to shine, which he certainly did with a fine save and a fourth consecutive solid performance. The save from the Tranmere striker represented the first time in 45 years that three consecutive penalties had been saved by a Chesterfield goalkeeper.

Back in 1979/80, Glan Letheran saved from Brentford’s Steve Phillips, Phil Tingay saved from Blackpool’s Sam McEwan (who then popped in the rebound, but the pen was saved) before back to back saves from loan legend, Mark Kendall, who denied Exeter’s Steve Neville (Phil Roberts turned in the rebound) but he then made that memorable stop at Hillsborough in the superb 3-3 match to deny future Spireites youth coach Mark Smith. Thanks Stuart Basson for the heads up and the chance to reminisce about a fine side that finished fourth at Level Three. Four straight penalty saves but only two goals. I love a dodgy stat!

Rovers’ failure in front of goal didn’t particularly knock them off their stride, whilst Chesterfield never really got back into any sort of pattern, so it came as something of a surprise when the hosts strung together an excellent move that led to James Berry crossing in from the left for Tom Naylor to glance the ball into the target with his head, just before the interval. Bonus.

The manager made a couple of switches in the back floor at the break, great to see Lewis Gordon back, but Tranmere remained on the front foot, winning four corners soon after the restart ahead of Sam Finley converting after a ball in from left-back Patrick Brough to level things up. It was no more than the visitors deserved.

Whilst Chesterfield had their chances to nick it, there weren’t enough efforts and we never really found out how good Rovers keeper Mario Marosi was. Ironically, the last game with fewer Town shots than the seven mustered in this encounter was at Salford City, when one of the six was enough to bag maximum points.

A win would have deemed the Grimsby game as a ‘mustn’t lose’ one. Feels like a ‘must win’ for certain now. Mariners fans had to endure a home defeat against Harrogate a couple of weeks ago. They have five games left, four of them away, only fellow play-off chasers Swindon Town at Blundell Park, so there’ll be plenty of doubters amongst the Cleethorpes crowd as well as amongst the Spireites faithful at kick-off time on Tuesday.

Oldham visit Barrow in midweek, whilst Saturday’s key games include Notts v Barnet, Oldham v Salford and Crewe v MKD, so plenty of top seven changes are inevitable.

Let me finish on a form report sort of thing. Top half teams form over the last six games? Barnet have mustered 14 points, they’re two points behind Chesterfield in the table having played a game more. Next in the list with 13 points in six games? Paul Cook’s team. More points bagged when it matters than Bromley, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Notts, Swindon, Salford, Grimsby, Crewe, Oldham and Walsall. That’s all.

Phil’s Positive: The team’s destiny is still in its own hands, but those hands need to grip much tighter on Tuesday, no fisherman’s tale about the one that got away.

Next Match: A huge game, Grimsby Town visit the SMH Group Stadium on Tuesday, April 14, 7.45pm kick-off. Listen to the build-up on 1866 Sport from 7pm with commentary being on the subscription platform, then back on the App for After the Whistle. Hear from Paul Cook, Lewis Gordon and Ryan Boot in the Tranmere podcast.

Chesterfield (4–2–3-1 to start): Boot; Curtis, McFadzean (Donacien 46),Swinkels, Owolabi-Belewu (Gordon 46); Naylor, Braybrooke; Markanday (Mandeville 75), Dobra, Berry (Fleck 75); Bonis (Duffy85). Subs (not used); Hemming, Elliott.