Spireites

Can lightning strike twice? Last season's home thrashing left it's scars, not least on Lee Bell. Let's hope he doesn't get the jitters again and do another Bromley.
The stats show that the amongst the highest number of passes in our division. I don't know if their passing style is a slow building or getting forward quickly. Whatever, the Alex have to press on with the aggressive front foot style that has brought success this season. Tezgel is due shots on target so maybe Saturday will be the day.
Chesterfield are not great at the back and it will be interesting to see if they play the high line they played in the 7-1 paint pot trophy. Okay, that result was also a one-off but if they do play a high line our pacey forward line should be ready to spring counters behind them.
Not a clue what will happen on the day. They might outclass us or the Alex may raise themselves to the challenge. 1-1

Really difficult one to call. They will be wary after the cup thrashing and watching Tezgel closely due to his hat trick against them. I think they will be very motivated to reverse their loss so I think a very close game. 2-2.

I know that Chesterfield are weak at the back, as are we, but I just can't see the Alex scoring more than once (yes, I realise in our previous 2 home games we scored 3!). It's not so much that I'm still not convinced by Tezgel (even though I have him in my EFL fantasy team at the moment), it's just that we have very few other people to rely on to score. Connolly has yet to do it as has Billington. As I mentioned in a previous post on another thread Holicek seriously needs to become involved in scoring. Maybe Thomas could as he has been close but we don't really have potential goal scorers.

They cannot turn up like the cup game, a lot closer with 1-1 or 2-2 as my forecast.

Lets see who Lee puts out as the first eleven, but if not working enough time to let subs try and influence the end of the game.

I believe that instead of our management constantly changin tactics to try to make sure opponents do not bear us, we should be playing to the strengths of our own squad . Hard pressure , complete commitment, and concentration . Much more of this is the way we play, and you have to outplay us as we intend to win.

Definitely the proverbial game of 2 halves! First half mainly watching watching the opposition rung rings around them. The second half in-your-face, aggressive and with pace, a proven successful style for the Alex this season.
Not sure about MOTM being Connolly. Okay he scored (obviously read my post earlier!) but he was partially involved in all of the Spireites goals, particularly the 2nd and 3rd. He also seemed to have his boots on the wrong feet as everything, certainly in the first half, he hit with his feet went off at a weird angle.
What has Lee Bell got against Rankine. What is it you need against a an ageing and tiring back line? Speed and quick feet. So he brings on Moult and Finney!!
Still, at 2-0 I thought we were in for another hammering. 3 goals again. What do I know?

Couldn?t agree more Gazan. Whichever clown concluded Connolly was MOTM watched a different game to me. Thoroughly enjoyed the game and we should have won it. Tezgel was selfish for one chance and could have put Holicek (I think) in and his miss at the end was very disappointing - but he worked very hard. Same on Rankine, he must be really re-considering his life choices, played well in the cups and doesn?t get a chance. Fair enough on Mingi, he is someone else?s player and we should develop our own but Rankine is ours. Billington remains really iffy, Hutch had some good shots - but defensively at times we were all over the place, two of theirs could have been dealt with a lot better. Sanders was MOTM for me, I think he made things tick but Lunt was good today too. Lots to be pleased about, strong midfield and we are threatening but were poor defensively in key moments. But it entertained.

For me another 2 points thrown away by poor tactics. Admit it was quite exciting, but at the same time it was also exasperating. Our squad is capable of so much more.

Billington had a nightmare. Their winger must have thought it was his birthday. Our No. 2 gave him so much free space , never closed him down, never tackled and kept running backwards. Virtually all his clearances went straight to an opponent. I was really surprised he was not subbed at halftime. Is it time to give Mingi a few games? Agree re the poor choice of subs.

I take back a little of my criticism of Connolly. He wasn't responsible for the 3rd goal. It was Goulding who needlessly headed a ball that was going well wide of the post. Not only that but he headed the ball right back into the middle of play.
Despite that, I would still prefer that Bell played Goulding next to MickeyD.
Re: our captain, does anybody have any news? LB didn't mention it in his post match interviews.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gazan

I take back a little of my criticism of Connolly. He wasn't responsible for the 3rd goal. It was Goulding who needlessly headed a ball that was going well wide of the post. Not only that but he headed the ball right back into the middle of play.
Despite that, I would still prefer that Bell played Goulding next to MickeyD.
Re: our captain, does anybody have any news? LB didn't mention it in his post match interviews.

---

Think they said before the game hopeful for Cambridge, & if not, definite for Newport.