Chesterfield are a 'nearly' team right now - talking points from defeat to Swindon Town

John Fleck cancelled out Finley Munroe’s opener but Joe Snowdon drilled in the winner just after the hour at the SMH Group Stadium. This was the Spireites’ first loss in 10 in all competitions and they dropped to ninth in the table, while the Robins, who finished the match with 10-men after Munroe received a second yellow, climbed to second. Here are some of the talking points from the game…

NEARLY TEAM

Chesterfield played some of their best football of the season, particularly at home, in the first-half and they would have been kicking themselves not to have been in front at the break. After Munroe’s headed opener on eight minutes was cancelled out by Fleck’s strike two minutes later, the Blues were by far the better team and dominated the remainder of the half, although they could have tested goalkeeper Connor Ripley more. The Spireites’ pressing, rotations and possession regains were very impressive and the Robins could not handle them. It was a performance which reminded you of the first-half against Mansfield earlier in the season. Swindon and manager Ian Holloway would have been relieved to have gone in at the break level.

But the Blues did not kick-on in the second 45. They failed to get near the heights of the first-half. They conceded from a corner and after that they never really looked like scoring. They huffed and puffed and, in fairness, Swindon defended resolutely. There really wasn’t much in the second-half. Swindon had some late chances but that was when Chesterfield were chasing the game. A defeat felt a little harsh but once again the Spireites conceded sloppily and left points out there. It is the small details which are costing them right now. As it stands, they are a ‘nearly’ team.

COOKY’S COMMENTS

In his post-match interview Paul Cook said that Chesterfield can’t keep making the same mistakes and that he won’t allow it to happen. He explained that they don’t have lots of options to choose from in certain areas with Ryan Stirk, Armando Dobra, Will Grigg, Matt Dibley-Dias, Luke Butterfield and now Janoi Donacien all out injured. With the transfer window a month away, it makes you wonder whether there might be more activity than first thought.

FANTASTIC FLECKY

Fleck was Chesterfield’s best player on the day, with Liam Mandeville not far behind. Fleck took his goal, his first for the club, in clinical fashion as he thumped home a knockdown from Chey Dunkley. He got the taste for it after that as he almost grabbed a second with a terrific long-range strike. Him and Naylor were excellent in the first-half as they won the majority of the duels and helped sustain attacks. Mandeville also deserves a mention. The positions he was taking up really caused Swindon problems. It was his corner that helped create the equaliser and he worked tirelessly, while also showing lots of quality.

HEAD UP DEV

It is only a minor point but young Devan Tanton has been beaten in the air at the back post from crosses twice in the last two games, both resulting in goals. He is not the tallest and opposition teams have noticed it. The Fulham loanee has a bright future in the game but he will need to find a way to combat that in future weeks.

Chesterfield: Hemming; Tanton (Daley-Campbell, 68), Dunkley, McFadzean, Gordon (Lewis, 68); Fleck, Naylor (Darcy, 68); Markanday (Dickson,79) Mandeville, Duffy (Berry, 68); Bonis.

Unused subs: Boot, Grimes.