Chesterfield '˜too nice' says a man well used to the uglier side of the beautiful game

Ian Evatt wants Chesterfield to stop being so nice on the field as they attempt to revive their League One season.
Chesterfield v Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Checkatrade Trophy at the Proact on Tuesday August 30th 2016. Chesterfield player Ian Evatt in action. Photo: Chris EtchellsChesterfield v Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Checkatrade Trophy at the Proact on Tuesday August 30th 2016. Chesterfield player Ian Evatt in action. Photo: Chris Etchells
Chesterfield v Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Checkatrade Trophy at the Proact on Tuesday August 30th 2016. Chesterfield player Ian Evatt in action. Photo: Chris Etchells

Evatt, who returned to the starting line-up at Charlton on Saturday, travels back to his home town Coventry today with the Spireites for another vital clash.

And ahead of an attempt to pick up their first win in nine outings, Chesterfield have been told they’re not nasty enough, by a 34-year-old centre-half well used to the uglier side of the beautiful game.

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Veteran defender Evatt said: “I think in general we are too nice.

“We aren’t nasty on the pitch.

“You see certain teams, especially away from home when they come here, slowing the game down.

“We’re bit naive to all that, we try and play with our hearts on our sleeves all the time, quick throw-ins, quick free-kicks, whereas other teams come here and spoil it a bit.

“We’re not used to that and it’s something we need to learn.”

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Evatt has spoken before about the abundance of youngsters in the Town squad and admits he feels a responsibility to help educate them in the ways of League One football.

When asked if Chesterfield’s recent susceptibility to being ‘bullied’ as skipper Gary Liddle put it, was down to inexperience or mentality, Evatt said: “I think it’s a mixture of the two.

“I think we’ve got a lot of young players in the squad at the moment who aren’t used to men’s football week in and week out.

“Obviously that will come with experience.

“It’s important that the lads who are used to it, the experienced ones, help them along the way.

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“We need to stand up and be counted a lot more, the senior ones.

“We’ll do that and we’ll show them the way, it’s just a learning curve, simple as that.

“They’ll be learning week in and week out, it’s just not easy when they’re learning on the job.”

Chesterfield boss Danny Wilson admitted his side had picked up one or two knocks in the defeat by Charlton, but will have Tom Anderson available again following his one-match suspension.