Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 1 Burton Albion 0
Vertu Trophy Group H
It was a JD sort of night. John Duncan’s favourite result and Janoi Donacien on the park for the first time since March, playing a major part in Town’s first clean sheet in two months. Jolly Decent.
Priority four or not, it was important for supporters, players and management alike to see some sort of confidence restored, some sort of normality, some sort of pride, during this Vertu Trophy game after the hurt of the weekend.
Much of the evening may well have been a nil-nil waiting to happen, though had it stayed like that until the final whistle, I’m sure with our record at being invited to step up to take a penalty, we’d have been denied our five!
Possession? 41%. Walsall territory! But we played really well without the football, hustling League One Burton high up, turning the ball over time and again and when they did come forward, limiting them to less than half-chance chances. Though all this came at a cost, with many of the 1,229 supporters not spending on pies or Bovril at half-time due to many being asleep. But 45 minutes, no goals conceded. Solid bounce back.
The pace was upped a tad after the break and with both Dobra and Markanday running at Albion’s solid defence, it became increasingly likely that Chesterfield’s chance would come, and on 79 it did. Dilan darted forward, passed wide to Ronan Darcy, his cross did a bit of pinball wizardry off a defender and the keeper to hit the onrushing Lee Bonis who was inches out, clearly having learnt from Will Grigg, to bundle the ball over the line.
Not clear at all at live speed who’d got the final touch, but in this case, it definitely wasn’t Lewis Gordon (check out Lee’s goal at Cheltenham), though it’s starting to form a pattern, Bonis bags one, clean sheet! Have I been generous in marking the assist down to Darcy due to the ball’s many direction changes after it left his right boot? Nah, there’s a tick in his box.
No late scares, Chesterfield back in the competition with Rob Page’s Liverpool U21s due at the SMH Group Stadium next month in the final group game. One win each from two games for us at Burton, Crewe host Liverpool next week, progression still a possibility.
Donacien’s withdrawal on the hour was planned, as was Fleck at the break and all of the others too, with Will Dickson given minutes as a striker having previously played in the #10 role. Coach Paddy Byrne confirmed afterwards that’s Grigg’s injury picked up at Colchester was not as bad as first feared and could be measured in ‘weeks and not months.’
With some pride restored, it’s on to the real stuff on Saturday when Gary and Sir David’s Salford City roll onto Whitt Moor. They beat Stockport on Tuesday in the Vertu, but have lost their last two L2 games to slip to sixth and a home win would see them leapfrogged.
Former Owl Kadeem Harris looks to be the man to watch whilst defender Haji Mnoga, he of the Kabongo Tshimanga tackle at Weymouth, is eligible having successfully appealed against the red card he received in the defeat against Bristol Rovers.
The Spireites remain unbeaten at home in the EFL and with Salford and then Fleetwood Town next up, it’s a massive opportunity to get the points column ticking over again.
Phil’s Positive: A clean sheet and a fine show from Donacien, miles ahead of any other positives.
Next Match: Back to EFL2 action at home to Salford City on Saturday, September 11, 3pm kick-off. All the build-up from 2 o’clock on the 1866 Sport App, then onto the commentary platform for the game itself, with After the Whistle back on the App. Hear from Paddy Byrne, Will Dickson and Adam Lewis in the Burton Albion edition via your podcast provider or Spireites website.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Boot; Daley-Campbell, McFadzean, Donacien (Grimes 63), Lewis (Gordon 72); Naylor, Fleck (Stirk 46); Markanday, Darcy, Berry (Dobra 63); Dickson (Bonis 63). Subs (not used); Tanton, Mandeville.
Goal: Bonis 79 (Chesterfield)
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Bookings: Naylor (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 1,229 (127 from Burton)
1866 Sport Banner Jones Man of the Match: Vontae Daley-Campbell (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
