'Mini copy and paste' - Chesterfield's struggles in front of goal continued against Barnet

Here are some of the talking points from the game at The Hive on Saturday...

COPY AND PASTE

This loss was a mini copy and paste of the defeat at Crawley Town seven days prior except this time they came away with nothing. They did not create the same number of clear-cut chances as they did in Sussex but their lack of ruthlessness once again cost them. Liam Mandeville lashed into the side-netting from a promising position in the box inside two minutes. The same player volleyed over from close-range in the second-half. Armando Dobra had a shot cleared off the line. And there were other half chances which the teams at the top probably make the most of. At the very least, this was a game Chesterfield should have scored in.

BRIGHT START

For the first half an hour Chesterfield were the better side but they did not get their noses in front. Mandeville’s big chance. Dilan Markanday a big threat. Tom Pearce marauding and delivering. They had the territory and looked dangerous on the counter. They consistently got into the final third against a Barnet side who had played – and won – in midweek. But it was the hosts who finished stronger, hitting the woodwork through Danny Collinge and then Chey Dunkley used his know-how to nudge Kabongo Tshimanga off balance when in on goal. It had been a decent half overall.

SLOPPY SECONDS

After a promising first-half, it was all downhill from there. Chesterfield didn’t get out of the traps quickly and Barnet made some tweaks and were improved. And they took the lead on 65 minutes when Nnamdi Ofoborh rifled into the top corner after a well-worked move, just five minutes after the visitors made three subs to try to change the momentum. The Spireites failed to regain control and they could not sustain attacks, despite efforts from Mandeville and Dobra. They came from rare moments rather than pressure. In truth, you didn’t really sense that an equaliser was coming.

WHAT NOW?

Chesterfield could quite easily have taken four points from their last two matches but instead they only came away with one, and that probably sums up their season. They can be pretty between both boxes but are not nasty enough in the areas. It has been a stuttering, spluttering season. Something is missing. But football is all about timing and the final whistle has not been blown yet.

Chesterfield: Hemming; Curtis (Donacien, 60), Dunkley, Swinkles, Pearce; Stirk, Braybrooke (Naylor, 83); Markanday, Mandeville, Duffy (Dobra, 60); Bonis (Grigg).

Unused subs: McFadzean, Dickson.