Five big talking points as Chesterfield slip to defeat against Bromley

Michael Cheek opened the scoring in the first-half before Blues captain Laurence Maguire levelled after the break.

Joe Kizzi won it for Bromley with six minutes to go as Town pushed for a winner themselves.

Despite the loss, the biggest low point came after the full-time whistle...

Asante anguish

It was the news we all feared. Top scorer Akwasi Asante will be out for nine months with a ruptured ACL, boss James Rowe confirmed. He had not scored in the eight matches leading to his injury, but his contributions in matches have been so important. So not only are Town going to have to cope without him for the rest of this season, but they will also not have him available until around halfway through the next campaign. It is a huge blow and a great shame for the striker who is a popular figure on and off the pitch. You have to worry about the psychological impact this will have on his teammates knowing they will have to get by without their star man for the promotion push. If the Spireites do not make the play-offs this season many people will point to this as the turning point.

Perspective

It is important not to ‘over dramatise’ any adversity, is what Rowe said recently and that applies to this defeat. This loss is Chesterfield’s first in seven games. Defeats have been few and far between under Rowe so there is no need to overreact. Losing used to be the norm six months ago, just remember that.

Big few weeks

Town now need to refresh and go again. Their attacking play does break down in the final third quite often so they need to come up with a plan which is going to get them free-scoring again. There are some big games coming up against play-off rivals so the next few weeks will really test their character. They have bounced back from defeats well under Rowe so there is no need to press the panic button just yet.

Controversy

Rowe was fuming at the officials and rightly so. They did not give Chesterfield any 50-50 decisions and denied them two strong penalty shouts. George Carline was bundled over in the box in the first-half and then was taken out after the break in what looked like a stonewaller. It just felt like the Sutton game where whoever shouted for it the loudest got the decision.

Didn’t deserve to lose

A draw would have been a fair result. As well as two strong penalty shouts, Chesterfield had a shot cleared off the line through Curtis Weston, Fraser Kerr headed against the post and had another header saved after the break, Jack Clarke should have done better with one opportunity and Nathan Tyson headed over another chance. Bromley did not trouble the hosts at all in the second-half and their only meaningful attack ended up being the winner which felt like a kick in the teeth.

Team

(3-5-2) G Smith; Yarney, Kerr, Maguire; Carline, Weston (M.Smith, 80), Oyeleke, Clarke (Tyson, 62), Whittle; Mandeville (Whelan, 67); Mitchell. Unused Substitutes: Taylor, Dinanga.

Goals: Cheek (19), Maguire (74), Kizzi (84).