Five big talking points as Chesterfield leave it late to beat Wrexham

Spireites go marching on

It is five wins from seven in the league for boss James Rowe who has totally changed Chesterfield’s season around. The manager ran down the touchline in Jose Mourinho-esque style to celebrate with his players after Asante’s 89th minute goal. It was a great moment but it was a shame Town fans were not inside the Technique to enjoy it. The Blues are only three points off the play-offs and have absolutely nothing to fear with the way they are playing.

Awesome Asante

He was unplayable. The 28-year-old was a handful all afternoon and Wrexham struggled to cope with his physicality, pace and movement. Asante took his two goals brilliantly but it was his all-round play that impressed the most. That is six goals in a Spireites shirt for him now and it was a performance of a player brimming with confidence. Chesterfield rely on him a lot so fingers crossed he avoids injuries and suspensions. He was the man of the match by a mile.

Magic Mandeville

Chesterfield are overloaded with options in centre midfield and some thought Liam Mandeville and Joe Rowley might be two who would be allowed to leave. But they both appear to be in Rowe’s plans at the moment and he praised the pair again for the second match running. Mandeville slipped in Asante for the winner with a clever pass which we know he has got in his locker but probably don’t see as often as we should. Hopefully both will take some confidence from playing their part in the win.

The debutants

Ipswich Town loanee, Adam Przybek, 20, was given the number one shirt and made his debut. Many thought it might have been the more experienced Grant Smith, 27, who would start but Rowe has tracked Przybek’s career and clearly feels he is ready. He did not have any saves of note to make but his distribution was good and he commanded his area well. Full-back Alex Whittle, 27, was given his debut and slotted in with no fuss. He ran out of steam towards the end but he has not played for six weeks so that is understandable. It will be a good battle between him and Joel Taylor as to who starts at left wing-back in the coming weeks.

Martin has a mare

Referee Martin Woods had a shocker in the first half. He controversially awarded Wrexham a penalty for a harsh handball given against Jak McCourt. The midfielder was trying to block a shot and if it did scrape his hand, it definitely was not deliberate. McCourt had no time to react given the shot came from a yard or two away from him.. None of the Wrexham players appealed, which says it all. Up the other end, he missed a very strong penalty shout for handball after Haydn Hollis’ flick-on looked to have come off a Wrexham arm. As Rowe said after the game, if he gives the first one, he has to give the second. There were a number of other baffling decisions too and he spoilt the last 25 minutes before half-time.