Tooley’s Take

Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context

Tranmere Rovers 4 Chesterfield 0

League Two Game #40

Well, quite frankly, that was embarrassing. Remember the song ‘Bad Day’ by Daniel Powter? Think he must have been a Town fan. Four goals conceded in a shocker of a second half, four of the boy Pewter’s lines from his ditty are; Where is the moment we needed the most? They tell me your passion’s gone away. You stand in the line just to hit a new low. You’re falling to pieces every time. Definitely a Town fan!

First half, solid, a couple of great chances, probably should have been at least one up, but for an away performance, nothing special, nothing to worry about. Basically okay.

(WARNING: DO NOT HAVE WHATEVER THE PLAYERS HAD AT HALF TIME.)

Minute in, mayhem, one down. No problem, early on, if you’re going to concede first, that’s not a bad time, get a bit of bouncebackability going and the game’s there for the taking. Doh, what do I know? Reaction? Pretty much non-existent, as far away from a Paul Cook side as it’s possible to be. Where was the pomp of Tuesday night’s non-stop attack-fest? Where was the grit of the trip to Barrow last weekend? Where was the pride in the badge, the fight, the bottle?

Credit Tranmere Rovers. New boss Andy Crosby has led them to 15 points in seven games, promotion form. They wanted it a lot more, which is the worst thing any supporter can say about the opposition. Occasionally Paul Cook’s sides have been pretty poor, but as for wanting it less than the opposition? That’s not something that’s been in post-match wash and brush ups all that often, but it looked that way at Prenton Park, and whether it’s true or not, that’s the perception we all had when the ref blew the final whistle to put us all out of our misery. It was extremely upsetting coming on the back of a wave of enthusiasm that had got the juices of excitement gushing once again in a manner we’ve become accustomed to with the gaffer.

Our last four in a half concessions in a three-point game? Crewe Alexandra 5 Chesterfield 1, 2017, the game after which manager Gary Caldwell was ‘sacked’ only to be almost immediately reinstated. That was a real low point in the ultimate low season. The team’s response? One point from the next 21 available. Whoops. We (realistically) need 18 points from the next 18 available now as a result of Grimsby Town and Colchester United both banking maximums in the later kick off games. That’s probably the only way that the pain of Prenton Park could be erased from our memories. European Champions Chelsea led 4-0 at half time in our FA Cup clash in 2022, but that all felt a bit more upbeat! Romelu Lukaku, he’s Inter Milan!

Kristian Dennis, who scored 21 goals in all competitions for Chesterfield in 2017/18, featured for us in that Crewe debacle, and despite not scoring for Tranmere, he was a constant threat, assisting the vital second goal for Hendry to open up the gap which the Spireites never threatened to close.

Anything else? Will Grigg’s introduction represented career appearance #500 in his League / National League career, congratulations to him, sadly it was in Chesterfield’s sixth straight defeat in Birkenhead.

Six left to exorcise the pain starting with Gillingham at the SMH on Tuesday. They’re on a Martin Allen run, five unbeaten, five without a win, a 2-2 draw at Salford on Saturday showed that Gareth Ainsworth (three draws in three games in charge) has put a bit of steel into the squad that’s won just two in 21.

Will PC go for wholesale changes? Post-Tranmere he talked about trust again, and not in a good way, but with play-off hopes still there, he’ll be wanting to select a side that he thinks will win the game, and it is a ‘must-win’ one. There were too many too far off it on Merseyside, but plenty of them have credit in the bank and would be unlucky to be left out. All supporters want to see on Tuesday is backbone, fight, passion and desire as against Carlisle United rather than indifference, lethargy, apathy and spineless that looked to be the unwanted adjectives associated with minutes 46 to 90+8 on Saturday lunchtime.

I’m still confident – don’t plan your hols for Bank Holiday weekend just yet!

Phil’s Positive: None.

Next Match: Tuesday, April 8 at home to Gillingham. The match kicks-off at 7.45pm. All of the build-up on 1866 Sport from 7 o’clock, then onto the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website), with half-time and After the Whistle remaining on the 1866 Sport App, online and on smart speaker.

Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Mandeville, Palmer, Grimes,Gordon; Naylor (Fleck 68), Metcalfe (Madden 75); Banks (Jacobs 68), Dobra, Olakigbe (Duffy 68); Pepple (Grigg 68). Unused Subs: Thompson, McFadzean.