Recap: Chesterfield held to draw by Altrincham after conceding two late goals
The Spireites are top of the league, one point ahead of Boreham Wood, and are unbeaten in their last nine matches.
Town go into this one on the back of three successive wins.
Altrincham have only won one of their last seven, which came away at Weymouth on Saturday.
Our reporter Liam Norcliffe is at the game and will provide all the build-up, team news, updates and reaction so stay with us throughout the day and evening.
Chesterfield v Altrincham: LIVE UPDATES
Key Events
- FT: Chesterfield 2 v 2 Altrincham (7.45pm KO)
- Spireites stay top despite draw
- Liam Mandeville gives Chesterfield the lead on 10 minutes
- Kabongo Tshimanga doubles lead just before half-time
- Matty Kosylo pulls a goal back on 84 minutes
- A-Jay Leitch-Smith equalises deep into stoppage time
- Chesterfield XI: Loach; Williams, Grimes, Croll; Kellermann, Weston, Oyeleke, Whittle; Mandeville, Khan; Tshimanga. Subs: Minter, McCourt, Tyson, Payne.
That’s a lot of talent
Chesterfield missing TWELVE players tonight: Hollis, Gunning, Maguire, Kerr, Carline, King, Miller, Rowley, Clarke, Asante, Denton, Rowe.
Chesterfield team news confirmed - one change
One change for Chesterfield as Jeff King (knee) misses out and is replaced by Liam Mandeville.
Spireites only able to name four subs.
Loach; Williams, Grimes, Croll; Kellermann, Weston, Oyeleke, Whittle; Mandeville, Khan; Tshimanga. Subs: Minter, McCourt, Tyson, Payne.
I’m not entirely sure how they might line-up, to be honest. A number of different ways are possible. Could even be a different formation. We shall see.
Tonight’s National League fixtures
A lot of teams near the top play each other tonight so it is a good opportunity for Chesterfield to take advantage...
Aldershot v Torquay
Boreham Wood v Notts County
Bromley v Yeovil
Chesterfield v Altrincham
Dag & Red v Eastleigh
Dover v Wealdstone
Halifax v Wrexham
Solihull Moors vs Grimsby
Stockport vs King’s Lynn
Weymouth v Woking
Saturday’s fixture could be in doubt
Chesterfield travel to Maidenhead United on Saturday but the Magpies have just confirmed a positive Covid test in their camp.
We will have to wait and see whether this means Saturday’s match will be postponed.
Maidenhead were due to play Southend tonight.
The club said in a statement: “We can confirm that there has been a positive COVID-19 case within the Magpies camp and following consultation with the Vanarama National League this morning, tonight’s fixture against Southend United has been postponed.”
Liam’s prediction
Hi all,
Tonight is the next step towards securing a nine-point week with three already in the bag from Solihull Moors on Saturday. Nine would be a superb return but I certainly would have taken six or seven beforehand.
Tactically, tonight will be very interesting. Alty play nice football but their manager has hinted at a possible change to combat Chesterfield’s threat. Will the Robins go a bit longer? Will the Spireites try and rough them up a bit? It should be an intriguing clash.
I’m going for a scrappy 1-0 home win.
Liam’s predicted line-up
James Rowe named an unchanged line-up on Saturday and I think he will do so again. Normally with a quick turnaround in games we might expect three or four changes but with 10 players unavailable the manager’s options are quite limited.
Luke Croll (knock), Jeff King (knock) and Manny Oyeleke (calf) will all be checked over ahead of this one.
Calvin Miller is suspended.
Danny Rowe (health issue) was set to resume light training this week so he might come into contention soon.
Fraser Kerr missed out on Saturday due to illness but if has recovered then he should return on the bench.
Haydn Hollis, George Carline, Gavin Gunning, Laurence Maguire, Joe Rowley, Jack Clarke, Akwasi Asante and Tom Denton remain out injured.
Predicted XI: Loach; Williams, Grimes, Croll; King, Weston, Oyeleke, Whittle; Kellermann, Khan, Tshimanga. Subs: Kerr, McCourt, Mandeville, Tyson, Payne.
James Rowe on Alex Whittle’s form
“We want performances like that, and the players want to force my hand, despite the camaraderie and togetherness. They all want to play in those big games when they come up – starting from tomorrow.
“It’s a reward for his patience and dedication because he picked up an injury in pre-season. Calvin [Miller] took the shirt and has done really well.
“There’s great competition now for that place, but both can play on the other side as well. They’ve got the intelligence to do it.”