It just wasn’t to be for the Spireites as they slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat in the Carabao Cup to their Derbyshire neighbours Derby County, despite taking the lead through Armand Dobra, who poked home after 29 minutes.
Derby were behind for just nine minutes and grabbed the winner late in the game when Kayden Jackson scrambled home after 68 minutes. The leveller just wouldn’t come but the team and supporters did the town and the club proud with a performance that belied the team’s status.
The Spireites, fresh from a positive performance in their opening League fixture, arrived at Pride Park hoping to get past the opening round of the competition.
Paul Cook chose to make just three changes from side that drew with Swindon Town last Friday. In came James Berry, Joe Quigley and Bailey Hobson; making way were Michael Jacobs, Ryan Colclough and Will Grigg. However, with nine named substitutes, changes were inevitable.
Derby also fielded a strong side and included 18-year-old Dajaune Brown, who impressed during his season-long loan last season with Gateshead.
Backed by a strong following, Chesterfield kicked off attacking the end where their supporters were housed.
The first action saw Derby’s Tom Barkhauzen play a great diagonal ball into the area for Kane Wilson who fed the ball inside but found no takers.
Tom Naylor spotted an opening and launched a perfect long ball for Joe Quigley to run on to, he made good ground but was challenged on the edge of the area by Sonny Bradley who was fortunate that the referee considered the contact to be against Quigley and awarded a free-kick.
Derby had had the bulk of possession and from their third corner they forced the game’s first save after Brown rose well and directed his downward header well but Ryan Boot got down well and claimed safely. The danger wasn’t over as three more goalbound efforts rained in before Liam Thompson finally blasted over.
The Spireites had a let off when Eiran Cashin broke down the left and played a great ball to the far post. Kane Wilson read the move well but was a split second too slow to control the ball and sliced his connection wide.
Moments later Chesterfield took the lead. James Berry and Hobson combined well and found Quigley who, in turn, fed Dobra (29’) perfectly who shimmied into the area and slid the ball coolly past the advancing Vickers from 15 yards to register the Spireites’ first score in cup competition against Derby since 1907.
Five minutes later, Berry cut inside and found Hobson who took just two steps before hitting agonisingly wide of Vickers’ right upright.
Derby levelled with a screamer after Thompson (38’) hit powerfully home from the edge of the area.
Both sides pushed forward looking to add to their tally but it was level at the break after an entertaining first period.
Chesterfield made their first change at the start of the second period when Vontae Daley-Campbell replaced Devan Tanton.
Derby came so close to taking the lead after 56 minutes. A period of pressure saw the ball fall to Barkhuizen who turned and hit strongly only to see his effort clatter the cross-bar and subsequently cleared to safety.
At the other end Berry found Quigley in the area but he couldn’t connect well and his effort flew wide.
It was end to end stuff as Brown again forced a save from Boot and Thompson fired over.
The Spireites made their second change as Kane Drummond replaced Berry. Their third followed as Jamie Grimes took over from Naylor. Immediately the Rams took the corner that the change had delayed. Substitute Jackson got the final touch to poke home from close range to put the Rams ahead and notch his first strike for the club.
Dobra tried a cheeky chip from the edge of the area after receiving from wide right. His effort lacked power and flew wide.
Chesterfield made their final two substitutions as Jacobs replaced Quigley and Tim Akinola took over from Ollie Banks.
The Spireites almost levelled after Lewis Gordon found Hobson well placed; his effort from 15 yards lacked accuracy and power and flew wide of the upright.
The level of noise from the 3,000 travelling Spireites was incredible and their support had been constant throughout.
Five added minutes were awarded and Derby were in no rush to take the next corner they gained whereas Chesterfield fought hard to regain possession but just couldn’t find that perfect ball needed to level the tie.
Derby go through to the next round but the Spireites go home fully deserving the applause from all around the ground for a spirited performance that just fell narrowly short.
Chesterfield: Boot, Naylor (Grimes 66), Oldaker, Hobson, Dobra, Berry (Drummond 64), Gordon, Dunkley, Quigley (Jacobs 73), Banks (Akinola 73), Tanton (Daley-Campbell 45)
Attendance: 8,538
Referee: Leigh Doughty
