Invasion football - how Chesterfield are putting teams to the sword under James Rowe

Poor Barnet were begging for the full-time whistle.

There’s an invasion happening at the Technique Stadium but it’s not one where angry fans run on the pitch to vent their frustration.

This one is called invasion football. It involves Chesterfield pinning the opposition back and not letting them breath so that they don’t know which way to turn.

“There are only two ways to play football,” Rowe said after the Spireites demolished the Bees. “You either dominate the space or you have the ball and you dominate the ball. If you get both, it is dreamland and that is what happened today - 6-0 - because you dominate the space, we have turnovers high up, we never let them rest, always up people’s backsides and that is what we want.”

Under Rowe, Chesterfield are having triple the amount of shots compared to the opposition. They had another 18 attempts at goal against Barnet on Saturday - eight on target - six goals. The visitors were restricted to a measly two on target, which came late in the game. This was not a one-off. They peppered Weymouth’s goal with 19 shots and Aldershot’s with 18.

On the ball against Barnet the Blues completed their highest number of successful passes this season at 81.89 per cent (312 out of 381). The Bees only completed 203. Or, to be more accurate, Chesterfield did not allow them to.

Town’s xG rate (expected goals based on quality of chances) was their highest of the campaign and possession was recorded at 57% (second highest).

“I am really pleased because I am asking the players to do something that they have not done and that is pressing 70 yards from our own goal,” Rowe said. “If we can get turnover 20 yards from the opposition goal you can create chances.

“We want to be high energy. I think the players that have come in have shown they have got that energy that we want and that has added to what we already had which is good players.”

Rowe said Chesterfield were ‘ruthless’ and ‘cut-throat’ and that is highlighted by hat-trick hero Akwasi Asante’s statistics from the game. He scored with all three of his shots on target. He only had four touches in Barnet’s penalty area.

Jak McCourt was dominant in midfield with one goal and two assists. He completed 40 of 51 attempted passes and made eight interceptions.

His midfielder partner, the impressive Tom Whelan, found a teammate in 21 out of 28 attempts. He completed four out of five long passes and seven out of nine forward passes were successful.

There was an assist on his home debut for Joel Taylor, who completed 21 out of 27 attempted passes and successfully dribbled the ball four out of five times.

At the back, Haydn Hollis found the net for the second game running and was excellent in possession with 33 out of 37 passes finding a Chesterfield shirt.

Rowe was very grounded after the game and is keen not to get carried away – but it is hard not to with how things are shaping up so far.