Inspirational Evatt savours overdue home goal for Spireites

Ian Evatt's first home goal in 11 years helped Chesterfield to a 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers today at the Proact.
Chesterfield FC v Bristol Rovers, Ian Evatt celeb rates his goalChesterfield FC v Bristol Rovers, Ian Evatt celeb rates his goal
Chesterfield FC v Bristol Rovers, Ian Evatt celeb rates his goal

The veteran defender was like a man possessed at times and took the Man of the Match plaudits for his all-action display.

He said the result, added to a win at MK Dons in midweek, was repayment for the faith shown by the Town fans during the recent losing streak.

“It’s a big thank you from the lads to the fans,” he said.

Click HERE to read the match report

Click HERE to read boss Danny Wilson’s thoughts

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“It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for the football club but they’ve travelled in numbers to Fleetwood and MK Dons and today they came out in numbers and given us fantastic backing. “The lads have repaid some of their faith with six points this week.”

Evatt was noticeably animated throughout the afternoon, barking orders and even admonishments to his team-mates and rousing the home support.

“It’s important as a senior player that I try to lead by example, try and get the lads going and today I thought I tried to do that as much as possible,” he said.

“I tried to get the fans involved a bit more and we managed to get our noses in front and then hold on.”

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Appraising his first half strike, centre-half Evatt was tongue in cheek: “It was just instinctive, I swivelled on a sixpence and stuck it in, it’s as good as it gets really.

“It’s just nice to get on the scoresheet, you can’t just rely on the strikers, it’s about the team chipping in.”

One of the forwards the club has been able to rely on lately is Jay O’Shea, the Irishman in a rich vein of form and adding a brace today, one of them a sublime free-kick.

It’s no surprise to Evatt.

“Jay has been on fire, I think he has six in six,” he said.

“It was a fantastic free-kick. I wanted him to cross it so I’m glad he ignored me and took a shot. He does that day in and day out in training and I expect nothing less, he’s a quality player.”

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For a player with Chesterfield supporters in the family, Evatt is keenly aware of the off field issues currently facing the club and he says the players have a role to play during the turbulence.

“In times of adversity it’s important you come together, stick together as a group and be positive,” he said.

“Since the news came out about the chairman leaving it’s been important that we stick together and give 110 per cent. We’ve certainly done that this week, we’ve got six points.

“It’s important we keep our heads down and keep battling until the situation is resolved.

“We shouldn’t be in the relegation zone, we’ve got too many good players for that.

“Hopefully we can get one or two of the injured bodies back and then things will look a bit different.”