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Grimsby v Cheserfield Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 07/02/2008

ONE of the flukiest unbeaten runs in footballing history comes under a sterner test as Town welcome high-flying Chesterfield with a fit and ready to fall over Jack Lester chomping at the bit.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Chesterfield (h)


The Opposition

Overview

Relegation last season amid horrendous financial and boardroom upheaval meant it was time for a new direction for a team whose only reasonable success still is the run that culminated in that epic semi-final 11 years ago. A new stadium, a new look team and a new wave of optimism has swept through Derbyshire as Chesterfield are finally looking up after difficult times. Lying seventh in a tight group where automatic promotion places are up for grabs means nothing but a 100% performance as the season draws to a close. Points are becoming ever more precious as the Saturdays blur in to the next and with only two wins since the start of the year, once to struggling Wrexham and another - albeit an impressive 4-0 win at home to Hereford - means that the scramble for points will become more and more desperate for The Spireites

The Team
Lester aside it's still a mightily impressive team manager Lee Richardson (above) has been able to assemble. Irish forward Adam Rooney (left), former Bolton midfielder David Niven and youngster Aaron Downes all add to a strong spine to the outfit. Barry Roche will be hoping to keep a clean sheet after letting his impressive record so far this season start to slip after three games conceding 4 goals. Richardson will hope for more consistency in midfield after many fans have started to worry about the lack of possession and bite in midfield. All will be wishing for a strong end to the season as they see a promising campaign slowly slipping away from them and with others catching the play-off spots (us included) - it’s going to be a nailbiting finish for the Spireites

Key Player
Jack Lester. Who else really? The former Forest, Sheffield United and Mariners' front man now wears a blue shirt and can still add goals to his already impressive resume. With 23 goals so far this season it's hardly surprising that Lester, who allegedly taught Ronaldo his finest swan dives, that his former gaffer and mentor Monsieur Buckley will be looking at several ways to stop the once hero of the Pontoon. After missing out during our visit to Chesterfield earlier in the year through suspension the Yorkshire born striker will be keen to show the Town faithful what they are missing since he turned a move back to Blundell Park in the summer.

Recent Form

TownChesterfield
DNotts Co(a)1-1
WBury(h)1-0
DShrewsbury(h)1-1
DDagenham(a)0-0
WWrexham(h)1-0
Currently 11th in League Two.
DChester(a)1-1
DStockport(a)2-2
LWycombe(h)0-1
WHereford(a)4-0
LRochdale(h)3-4
Currently 7th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownChesterfield
Danny North7
Lester23
Rooney7

Team News

TownChesterfield
  • Four players have returned to full training after recent injuries and are all in contention for a recall. Paul Bolland (ankle), Ciaran Toner (hamstring), Tom Newey (leg) and Gary Jones (ankle) are all fit and able to play if selected. Buckley would seem unlikely to make too many changes from the recent team and formation however.
  • Martin Butler is the only played still ruled out, suffering from a mysterious back injury caused by excessive driving.
  • Chesterfield have signed 32-year-old former Wolves and Cardiff winger Kevin Cooper on loan until the end of the season. He was out of contract and therefore could be signed outside the transfer window.

  • Striker Jamie Jackson has joined Blue Square North side Gainsborough Trinity on loan.
  • Probable Teams

    TownChesterfield
    G1Barnes
    D6Fenton
    D24Atkinson
    D3Newey
    M14Hird
    M2Clarke
    M11Boshell
    M4Hunt
    M17Hegarty
    F9North
    F19Jones
    G1Roche
    D15Downes
    D2Kovacs
    D6Gray
    D11Robertson
    M27Moloney
    M8Niven
    M16Winter
    M7Ward
    F14Lester
    F10Fletcher

    Subs

    TownChesterfield
    13Montgomery
    15Whittle
    18Bore
    7Till
    20Taylor
    12Jordan
    30Picken
    10O’Hare
    22Allison
    TBACooper

    Head to Head

    Town have a good record against the Spireites, especially at Blundell Park. Town have only lost one of the last eight games against Chesterfield.

    P 89 W 38 D 24 L27 F 141 A 114

    Chesterfield Head-to-Head (22nd on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Chesterfield 1 Grimsby 2 (Sat 11th August 2007)

    The Mariners were very fortunate to say the least to win the game at Saltergate, when Danny North scored a spectacular winner on the stroke of half time utterly against the run of play. It was a miracle Chesterfield never scored sooner, and the ref helped us as he should have sent Newey off and he also gave Town a dodgy penalty.

    Report

    Prediction

    Grimsby Town 2-0 Chesterfield

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