SPIREITES FAN VIEW: Solid if not spectacular start to Wilson regime

There was certainly a marked difference between the two fixtures the Spireites faced over the festive period with a noticeable improvement in the draw against Coventry City.
Chesterfield football Club Web TileChesterfield football Club Web Tile
Chesterfield football Club Web Tile

You could perhaps define the defeat at Peterborough as more of the same as there was very little attacking difference.

It can be said that we did seem fairly competent defensively on Boxing Day, not making too many mistakes and on the whole keeping them at bay.

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However, the major problem of confidence, or lack of, was our undoing.

Chesterfield vs Coventry City - Danny Wilson and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake a full time - Pic By James WilliamsonChesterfield vs Coventry City - Danny Wilson and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake a full time - Pic By James Williamson
Chesterfield vs Coventry City - Danny Wilson and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake a full time - Pic By James Williamson

As soon as the Posh took the lead late on in the first half our heads dropped and we didn’t seem as though we were going to get back in it.

We definitely didn’t create enough in the whole 90 minutes with a half chance from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake the closest we came.

On Monday however there was a stark improvement.

Confidence which was lacking just two days prior seemed to have been given a bit of a boost, both on the field and off it.

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I would say we probably edged the first half, despite not having a lot of possession we managed to reduce the Sky Blues to long range efforts which didn’t really threaten our goal.

Having said this we didn’t show too much going forward either and that is an aspect Danny Wilson will have to work on during his tenure if we are to be successful.

But find the back of the net we did, and it was particularly pleasing to see Lee Novak pop up as he has been struggling for consistency since arriving from Birmingham on loan.

Second half we definitely sat back and soaked up pressure from the visitors which was only to be expected against a side in the play-off mix.

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Tommy Lee once again pulled off a string of good saves to keep us in front.

However, we did have chances to kill the game, Ebanks-Blake clipping the crossbar perhaps the seemingly most gilt-edged chance which was missed.

And so there was certain inevitability about the late equaliser, on the balance of the game it was probably fair but we had enough chances to earn a victory.

I hope that the late goal doesn’t knock us back too much as there was definitely encouraging signs to be taken away from certain player performances.

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Chris Herd had a solid game alongside Sam Morsy in central midfield.

A special mention has to go to Dion Donohue who seems to be settling really well into the backline and looked superb at left-back and kept City’s wingers at arm’s length for the entirety of the match.