County v Chesterfield: FA Cup Thread, Take 1 (24/10/2020)

Chesterfield lose to Wealdstone 3-2.

Denton scores both of their goals. Tyson goes off injured early on. Sharman is back.

Obviously it's a hard enough job at the best of times, but the more I hear their manager talk the more I just think they really are on a downward trajectory. His complaints about not getting the 'luck' are quite frankly bizarre given their overall performances. Some of the organisation on show off the ball isn't even mid-table NLN. Regardless of ref decisions, what excuse is there for that exactly?

Add in that their forum seems to have more than its fair share of posters who are negative towards what, let's face it, is often their best chance of a goal and their best set-play defender too in Denton. Not good. Regardless of the result of any one game, turning that round won't be easy.

The programme for this afternoon. Reduced in length for the Cup, but still featuring Sandy and me (p10):

A good example of why shape matters, this one.

As with the Fleetwood preseason game, they've used their 3 forwards to stop our CBs bringing the ball out and it's been harder to pass into the midfield 4 line. This gives the impression that we're going 'long ball' but its just the shape cancelling out our usual +1 at the back and the ability to bring the ball out. In effect, Hinchliffe has been the +1 with time on the ball. It's been his balls to Bennett, dropping into more of the hole, which have led to Minihan getting on the ball high up the pitch after Bennett's flicked on.

The only defensive progressions have been when Chesterfield have been out of shape on the turnover. Palmer got one chance but slid the ball to a marked Rooney who was dispossessed. Hogan got a break out too after a quick throw. And it's this that's imperative - being wake to when to quicken things as we have the advantage in an area. We've been one-tempo for the most part and missed little chances to step it up.

Again, we've seen too many fouls given away - one of Bennett's led to a successive one (Maynard) which led to a chance for them.

Maynard's horizontal movement has gotten him free a couple of times and with a bit of time on the ball and that's something he can continue hopefully.

Other than that, even without anything major changes, hopefully a little interchanging will begin to ask questions of their defensive work as we've largely been static to our positions which has made things more easy than they should be.

A few half-chances either way but with a bit more alertness of when to step it up, and a touch more 'take it to them', we'll hopefully see it over the line.

Definitely on both points. Hogan spotted the opportunity to run it after Chesterfield front line lost shape and that ultimately led to the sequence of corners and pressure down in their box. Corners have been decent, movement from Palmer especially impressive. As soon as we scored, Pemberton was shouting at the ref when it was a clear 'keeper error and not a foul in sight.

Thomas is getting a bit found out now in this last few minutes and that's a good area for them to try and exploit but Stott can shuffle to cure it as he can do a decent LB job. Thomas has done well overall to be fair to him.

I knew Sam would end up the 'villain' after all the praise he's had so far this season, I just knew it.

Ah, well, less distractions on the road to our primary objective as far as I'm concerned. The money would have been nice, but I honestly don't care about the Cups this season - we've been outside the FL for far too long now.

An absolutely awful game, but it was an absolutely awful day in Stockport, as it is here.

I'm just glad we didn't have to spend more energy on extra time before that.

I honestly don't get all the positive comments from our commentary team and from Jim over the last two games regarding Chesterfield's quality, because they're bloody awful and I can see why their fans are moaning.

Anyone else hear Fitzy during that game?