The Sunday Review

I turned up at Saltergate for my first game of the season today, as holiday and cricketing commitments kept me away from our previous matches. I was obviously excited, in fact so excited that I forgot to pay for my parking on Rose Hill!

Chesterfield lined up with Allison replacing Shaw, as expected, but the surprising news was that Colin Larkin had failed an early morning fitness test on a hammy, so an eager Caleb Folan was drafted in. Two big fellas up front then, I thought, but where was the guile and craft in attack that was going to be needed against this relegated Championship side? Little did I know how wrong I was.

We attacked from the off. Millwall hurriedly defended a Hurst cross after a couple of minutes and the tone was set. A shot from the Chief was blocked soon after, and Downes was narrowly wide after an excellent glancing header with stiff Millwall competition all around him. The first goal then arrived, Hall played a one-two with Folan, whose backheel confused the defender and allowed Hall back in for his first of the season, which was stroked home with ease.

The second arrived on 24, as Folan dummied an excellent low Hurst cross which the found the Chief, who gleefully fired home in front of the Kop.

Chesterfield's third on 32 was designed by a text book flick on from the Chief, which split the Lions defence. Folan timed his run perfectly and burned off Shaw, allowing him time to slide the ball past the despairing Pidgeley. Cue mass celebration on the Kop, and a move from dozens of visiting supporters towards the exit.

Number four then came five minutes into the second half. The build up showed Hall being supplied by Hurst on the right hand side. He then cut in and curled the ball past the exposed goalkeeper just inside the far post. Chief then supplied number five on 65, heading in from close range after our opponents failed to deal with an O'Hare corner.

The closing half an hour saw Bailey replace the Chief, and the Lions score a consolation goal, as Braniff volleyed in from 12 yards after his control wrong footed Downes. Apart from their goal, Millwall had a couple of half chances, and one good first half chance which their player dragged wide, but other than that we were completely dominant.

People around me on the Kop were saying at half time that if Larkin had been playing we would have scored more against this poor Millwall outfit. I'm not so sure. Colin would have scored, of that I have no doubt, but Caleb and Chief did so well that I'm convinced that an on-song Colin would have only been able to match their achievements at best. After this performance, how can Roy restore our first choice forwards to the front line at Vale Park, assuming they're fit?

This report was made by roving reporter Larry as your editor MISSED the mauling of the lions.