Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Exeter City 2 Chesterfield 0

Emirates FAC2

A pyrrhic victory is a win where the consequences are so negatively significant, it feels like a defeat. Not sure I’ve ever come across a pyrrhic defeat! A reversal against an ex-gaffer and losing Madden, before a ball had been kicked, Jacobs during the first half and Naylor at the break.

Never before had Chesterfield previously come up against a former manager in the FA Cup and never before had the 456 foot soldiers had to travel as far to see the Spireites in this competition. This was the furthest ever trip, out-performing Portsmouth back in 1968/69 (lost 3-0), so if you went there as well, give yourself a pat on the back! I’ll start you off with stadium announcer Howard Borrell – he endured both mammoth journeys and disappointing defeats.

Incidentally, Town’s first trip in the FA Cup was way back in 1892 to Gainsborough Trinity, a game that saw Chesterfield 2-0 up in the qualifying round. Trinity got it to 2-2 and took a 4-2 extra time lead before bad light caused the game to be abandoned! The Spireites were trounced 4-0 nine days later.

To rub a bit more salt into the wound, on St Andrew’s Day, the win means Scot Gary Caldwell has won three out of three against Chesterfield (two for Wigan Athletic in 2015/16), equalling the number of wins he oversaw in his spell on Whittington Moor. Incidentally, Michael Jacobs and Ollie Banks featured in all three of those games.

We exit the Cup in round two having made the third for the previous three seasons. That 3332 run contrasts somewhat with the previous ‘old regime’ showing. In the two seasons prior to that, the club exited at the qualifying stage both times, Wrexham in a replay followed by Stockport, who were beaten in a penalty shoot-out at Edgeley Park, only for it to be declared Jordan Cropper was not properly registered, game played again, tonked 4-0. The last four seasons have been fantastic in comparison.

I’ve avoided the match this long, best reflect! Frustrating losing at St James’ Park, but at least we were beaten by a side in a higher division and a side better than us on the day. Sadly, unlike the recent wins over higher status clubs like Salford City, Northampton Town, AFC Wimbledon, Leyton Orient and Portsmouth, the team never clicked into gear.

Going into the break at 0-0 was going to be a real bonus. No shots at all for the team in blue whilst the Grecians had been denied on several occasions, good defending, sound goalkeeping. Then, in stoppage time, a left sided corner played deep to 6’4” French defender Tristan Crama, on loan from Brentford and a former Bristol Rovers colleague of Lewis Gordon, unmarked on the edge of the six, headed home. Hammer blow. Undoubtedly the defence should have made it much more difficult for him.

Having lost Paddy in the warm-up and Jacobs in the first half, Banks appeared for the second half due to another injury to Naylor, meaning those three join Tanton, Dunkley, Daley-Campbell, Metcalfe, Fleck and Jones on the treatment table. Our undoubted strength in depth (more EFL goals off the bench than any other on the 72 sides) is being severely tested.

Paul Cook’s side stepped up a little after the interval. Colclough began to look the most dangerous player on the park and Dobra had some good runs, and a few shots were registered. But just as Chesterfield looked like they could potentially get back into the game, 15 yards inside his own half, DJ turned, lost the ball, City sped forwards and 23 caps for Finland winger Ilmari Niskanen (who’s played in the Champions League) put the ball on a plate for 82 times a Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis (position #11 on the all-time list) to tap home. He’s scored against Germany and The Netherlands, he wasn’t going to miss that.

Dobra had a great chance to give the travelling fans some hope, but his shot was saved, and the game petered out to an inevitable conclusion and a long, miserable trip home.

After the game and after the initial dressing room conversations, Cook, his coaching staff, Ben the physio and main man Phil Kirk stood in a circle on the pitch no doubt wondering what needed to be done, not only ahead of the trip to MK Dons, but also for the seven scheduled December games and the January window of opportunity (which works both ways, of course).

Two spots left in the EFL squad, so could that see a recall for Kane Drummond (who holds one of those places) or Bailey Hobson (who doesn’t)? Plus, it was good to see Ryheem Sheckleford back in action after his pre-season injury and subsequent operation. He told me he’d been back in full training for two weeks, so with Tanton and Daley-Campbell out, he could potentially fill one of the slots ahead of the midweek journey. Decisions, decisions.

The gaffer indicated after the game that none of the freshly injured players would be ready for Tuesday, though Dilan Markanday will be available again after not being allowed to play in the Cup. We should be able to muster up 16 for that game, just about.

Our last four visits to the city of the concrete cows have seen four wins, but they’ve won five on the bounce in EFL2, so are the form team of the moment, though they’ve not played in over a fortnight (international week and out of the Cup). Colclough and Grigg, as ex-Dons, will want to show a thing or two, as will the man who scored MK’s late winner last time out, Laurence Maguire, in a 3-2 win over a Cheltenham Town side that were 2-0 up.

Scott Lindsey, manager of MK, now owned by a Kuwait-based consortium, is the man that led Crawley Town, including Loz, to promotion last season. He took over in late September when Mike Williamson moved on to Carlisle United.

Vertu? Is the car trophy worth a push? Or should we just concentrate on the league? A win would see us leapfrog the hosts and return to the zone we all want to be in.

Phil’s Positive: The U18s won 2-0 at Carlisle United, 11 games unbeaten, ten of them won!

Next Match: Milton Keynes (A) on Tuesday, December 3, the first of seven scheduled fixtures before the transfer window opens again! Full commentary for subscribers on the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website). Build-up from 7pm, half-time and post-match remains on the 1866 Sport App.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Thompson; Sheckleford (Jessop 72), Williams, Grimes, Horton (Gordon 72); Naylor (Banks 46) Oldaker; Colclough, Jacobs (Dobra 33), Berry (Mandeville 67); Grigg. Unused Subs: Boot, Araujo, Cook