Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Bradford City 2 Chesterfield 1
League Two Game #23
Where do I start? On a day of mistakes, the Gryffindor clad team were far from magical and made loads, many prompted by the hard work of the rank and file in the blue kit. The Spireites made a lot fewer, but were punished.
It was a game of two-thirds. Chesterfield possession, two-thirds, a total of 19 shots, two-thirds of them to Town (and two-thirds of the on target ones were blue efforts), there were 36 fouls, two-thirds of them on Spireites players, total touches in attacking penalty areas reached 39, two-thirds of them by the visitors, who also won just over two-thirds of the corners. Sadly, two-thirds of the goals were scored by the Bantams.
In front of the biggest League Two crowd of the season to date, Paul Cook’s threadbare squad started strongly. Liam Mandeville should have opened his scoring account for the season after a lovely move before a number of magicians combined to put Chesterfield in front. Ollie Banks’ inch-perfect ball down the right (pass of the season?) was picked up by the wizard that is Dilan Markanday, a step-over and cross to Armando Dobra, shot blocked, Kane Drummond recycled and Abracadobra patiently waits for the right moment to convert. Home fans frustrated, travelling army elated.
Then the first of two Chesterfield throw-ins that turned a bit sour. Araujo, Hobson and Grimes will all have felt they could have been a bit stronger in allowing City to burst forwards from a Chesterfield attacking position to force a four-on-two moment, with sub Bobby Pointon flicking in a neat delivery to level. It was the 20-year-old’s seventh career goal, every one in a Bradford win. It was an attack where a potential ‘take one for the team’ yellow card may have been the best strategy.
Before half-time, there was still time for Dobra to head against the inside of a post and the ball stay out, fine margins. Ifs, buts and maybes, but one-up at the break and it’s a different story.
City came out a different team, more determined and they’d toughened up as well, so Town had to defend for their lives for a spell, but then another Chesterfield throw led to a couple of panic passes and a moment the skipper will have played through his mind time and again since as Sarcevic bustled on to turn the game around. Heartbreaking.
It took a while for the Spireites to shake off the lethargy, but they did, and as the game went on, Chesterfield played some excellent football, built up a number of heads of steam, but they couldn’t quite pull a rabbit from the hat to earn the (at least a) point their efforts deserved.
The injury list took its toll in the latter stages. Harvey limped off, forcing one of only two substitutions the manager made. With four of the young subs having less than an hour’s worth of combined EFL experience, their ability to change the outcome the game was limited, meaning the gaffer made only two changes, the fewest he’s made this season in a season where strength in depth has played a major part in the team’s adjustment to the EFL.
It’s tough at the moment for sure and will remain tough for the home game on New Year’s Day against MK Dons, who’ve picked up just one point from four games since beating Chesterfield 3-0 at the start of December. Danny Webb indicated that James Berry (tight hamstring) and Ryan Colclough (calf) could potentially be available but that no risks would be taken with them.
Halfway through the season, ninth place, within a good week of being in the play-off mix and a good fortnight from the automatic spots. Those old enough to remember Billy Fury will know, it’s halfway to paradise, so near, yet so far away. Walsall look to be saddled up for a jump into League One, but there are two more automatic spots and four play-off places well up for grabs.
The transfer window is about to creak open and there’ll be movements for sure, and I assume both ways. There’ll also be injured players returning to fitness, so I’d expect the squad by the end of January to be of a strength and depth to enable the team to push on towards at least a top seven spot.
Set your notifications up, January looks set to be a busy month. Happy New Year to all Spireites out there.
Phil’s Positive: Many more positives than negatives, despite the result. The Spireites were, over the 90, the better side, there were tired players out there giving their all for the badge.
Next Match: No matches now until next year! Milton Keynes Dons (H) on Wednesday, January 1, KO 3pm. Full commentary for subscribers on the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website). Build-up from 2pm, half-time and post-match remains on the 1866 Sport App. The match is also available to stream, details also on the club website.
Chesterfield (4-1-4-1 to start): Thompson; Sheckleford, Naylor, Grimes, Araujo (Horton 73); Banks; Markanday, Mandeville, Dobra, Hobson; Drummond (Oldaker 73). Unused Subs: Boot, Jessop, Cook. Elliott, Mohiuddin.
Goals: Dobra 35 (Chesterfield), Pointon 42, Sarcevic 52 (Bradford)
Referee: Adam Herzeg
Bookings: Drummond (Chesterfield), Halliday, Baldwin, Benn, Odour (Bradford)
Attendance: 18,730 (2,341 from Chesterfield)
Galaxy Travel 1866 Sport Man of the Match: Dilan Markanday (chosen by Phil Tooley)
