A Different View

Sports Journalist and editor of Vital Chesterfield gave his thoughts to the Spireites start to the season.

http://www.chesterfield.vitalfootball.co.uk/

With just four league games played this season, Chesterfield's campaign is not going as expected. The Spireites, tipped as promotion contenders at the start of the season, got off to a dream start with an away victory over Barnet on the opening day. The Barnet game pleased fans for a number of reasons, not only was Jamie Ward and Jack Lester on form (both getting on the score sheet) but a solid performance from new boys Rob Page, Tommy Lee and Kevin Austin.

After a Carling Cup defeat against Preston North End, Chesterfield faced Bury in their first league home game of the season. Richardson included big summer signing Darren Currie for the match and hoped the Spireites could impress the home crowd. In fact it couldn't have been anymore opposite, Chesterfield went a goal down within just 4 minutes and to make matters worse, Jack Lester had to leave the field of play with an injury. After that the Spireites never really got going and Bury ended up all out winners with a well deserved 3-1 victory.

Richardson was now under pressure after having no real back up plan for Lester's injury, he was forced to bring in young Scott Boden, but with no real experience who was to fill the 'main man's' boots? Richardson also brought in Trevor Carson, a young and talented goalkeeper, on a season long deal loan from Premiership club Sunderland. As well as bringing young Jordan Bowery to the bench on a few occasions.

Chesterfield were disappointed with their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bury, and in an interview with Vital Chesterfield, Midfielder Lloyd Kerry said "I thought we were very poor on Saturday, we never got started and conceded 3 sloppy goals. It is a big disappointment losing Jack Lester but these things happen in football and we have to be able to adjust to it. Hopefully we can put the Bury game behind us and look ahead to getting the result we want at Grimsby". Chesterfield did bounce back indeed, with a 1-0 victory over Grimsby Town at Blundell Park and a very good performance. Ward seemed to be on fire, scoring the only goal of the game and oozing with confidence.

In an interview after the game, Ward stated that he relished the challenge of being the only available fit forward and showed his ambitions, with stated his target was 20 goals come the end of the season.

The Wycombe game on Saturday was another disappointed performance at home, but we must take some positives out of the game. The introduction of young forward Jordan Bowery gave the fans something to look forward to, and with Darren Currie picking up Man of the Match. If the Spireites are to contend for promotion this season, their going to have to pick their game up and not just rely on certain players, Jack Lester and Robert Page.

Let's hope Chesterfield can break their Saltergate Curse on Saturday when the Spireites take on local rivals Rotherham. Without a win at home this season, the Spireites will be hoping for a fully fit team to break this curse and bounce back………..and if that fails we will just play all our games away!

by Adam Hulme