Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 0 Accrington Stanley 3
League Two Game #15
It was very, very disappointing, you can’t argue with that. But I’ll take disappointing again if we match the previous run of just one home defeat in all competitions in 40 games and scoring in every home game for 43 on the trot. But it was still very disappointing!
Plans had gone awry after Metcalfe and Araujo picked up injuries in the previous 24 hours and Max Thompson rolled an ankle in the build-up, but the 11 starters plus subs looked more than enough to pick up the points.
Wearing white shirts at home for the first time since Arthur Bellamy scored in a 1-1 draw with AFC Bournemouth in December 1972, Paul Cook’s team should have had an early opportunity to take the lead. But what looked to all home fans like a nailed on handball in the box didn’t impress referee Darren Drysdale, who’s not overseen a Town home win since 2008 (Shrewsbury Town 4-1). Gaffer booked for the third time this season. Understandable.
Stanley worked hard, incredibly hard. They had a game plan to get in Chesterfield’s faces, make it hard for them to advance, and it worked early in the game, in the middle of the game and at the end of the game. They knew they couldn’t afford to let the home side play, and they disrupted incredibly effectively. It felt like their manager John Doolan (on the day before his birthday) had watched all of our home games and taken a little bit from all of them and constructed his plan accordingly. They could not have done any better. Home flair was effectively extinguished.
The Spireites fell behind when Ben Woods’ free-kick was well saved by Ryan Boot, but the kicker’s namesake Josh reacted quickest to make in three in three.
In stoppage time at the end of the first half, a terrific quick free-kick was delivered by DJ Oldaker, it picked out Devan Tanton, who earlier had seen a snap shot deflected out by a red sock (for a goal kick), he was one-on-one with the keeper, who made a good save to deny what looked like a moment that would see the contest return to parity. Big moment. Plenty of Town possession, but something was missing, that bit of quality.
After the break, again the hosts bossed it, but without swagger and sharpness. Corners racked up, and were defended, crosses were blocked, shots snuffed out at source and then shock, as Awe, a big central defender, ran through the middle, played a deft one-two to make it 2-0. Soon it was three, but how it wasn’t a foul on Tom Naylor by assistor Walton, who crossed for sub Knowles to tap-in, was a mystery.
Whilst we can look at the officials and ask questions, this defeat wasn’t down to them, Town simply didn’t do enough. They did plenty, 77% possession, 13-7 on shots, 7-1 on corners, but against a very determined and committed opponent, that was not enough to prevent a fifth straight win over Chesterfield by Stanley. Mirroring the Flat Stanley children’s books by Jeff Brown, the final edition was called Stanley, Flat Again. Spot on.
The stat that, for me, shows Accrington’s determination, was the foul count, five by Town, a whopping 20 by the visitors. If the Boys in White needed stopping, they were stopped. I certainly feel that Chesterfield would not have been allowed to score a goal like the visitors’ second.
A fine pre-match spectacle, a perfect minute of silent reflection, well done all concerned, another terrific home attendance, but another home game where frustration and under achievement were there for all to see. Good job none of the top six managed a win, so at least the gap to the top hasn’t widened, but we need to work out how to pierce stubborn, determined and concertinaed defences a little bit more effectively.
Strange game coming up. Chesterfield already through to the BSM knock-outs stages, visitors Grimsby Town already out, so it’s all about making sure we get a home tie by winning (or drawing plus taking the shoot-out honours) on Tuesday. All seems a little low-key, but it could just be what’s needed to get the home form back on track.
On the day Connor Cook became the 1,181st player to appear in the Football League for Chesterfield, #433, Johnny Langland, who made seven appearances for the club in the early 1950s, celebrated his 95th birthday, and we believe he’s the first Spireite ever to reach that number. Happy Birthday, Johnny.
Phil’s Positive: The pre-match activities celebrating Remembrance Weekend were excellent.
Next Match: Grimsby Town (H), Tuesday, November 12, Bristol Street Motors Trophy, KO 7pm. Full commentary for subscribers on the new commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website). Build-up from 6.30pm, half-time and post-match remains on the 1866 Sport app.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Tanton (Mandeville 74), Naylor, Grimes (Madden 74), Gordon; Oldaker, Banks; Markanday (Cook 88), Dobra (Jacobs 78), Berry (Colclough 74); Grigg. Subs (not used): Rinaldo, Williams.
Goals: J.Woods 19, Awe 65, Knowles 69 (Accrington)
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Bookings: Oldaker, Naylor (Chesterfield), Aljofree, Coyle, Walton (Accrington)
Chesterfield manager Paul Cook was booked.
Attendance: 8,285 (217 from Accrington)
Galaxy Travel 1866 Sport Man of the Match: Darren Oldaker (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
