John Pemberton wants Chesterfield captain Will Evans to return to Player of the Year form

John Pemberton wants captain Will Evans to return to the form which saw him awarded Chesterfield’s Player of the Year last season.
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The 28-year-old endured a difficult first half of the season as he struggled for form under previous Spireites boss John Sheridan.

Sheridan blasted Evans after the defeat to Bromley in December, accusing him of “ruining” and “costing” Town three points.

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Evans, who signed a new contract last summer until 2021, took over the captain’s armband from Anthony Gerrard in September.

The centre-half collected the Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year at the end of the 18/19 season after some impressive performances, goals and of course that memorable display in the incredible 3-3 draw against Ebbsfleet United in which he scored a 95th minute equaliser and then went in goal to save a penalty.

"It has been a tough season for a lot of the players,” Pemberton said.

"Dealings I have had he (Evans) felt in some of it he has been criticised unfairly it is fair to say.”

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Evans, who is yet to score at the right end for Chesterfield, has started all five of Pemberton’s games in charge.

Chesterfield captain Will Evans.Chesterfield captain Will Evans.
Chesterfield captain Will Evans.

The defender looped a header past his own goalkeeper Shwan Jalal last time out against Wrexham but Pemberton believes Evans showed a lot of character to bounce back.

“He scored an own goal (against Wrexham) and I felt he recovered well,” Pemberton added.

"I am seeing a difference in him.

"He has been quite quiet to now you get a bit more personality back.

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"I want the Will Evans back who scored the equaliser in the 3-3 (against Ebbsfleet United) and went in goal and saved a penalty.

"I want him back and that is what I have said to him and when we get that back then we have got a good player.”

Talking about what he wants from his defence as a whole, Pemberton added: “I think the big thing is consistency and being able to sense danger.

“If you only think about defending when you have lost the ball it is too late because things happen really quickly.”