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4-4 last time!
4-4 last time!

Chesterfield v Grimsby Preview

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 04/01/2008

GRIMSBY'S recent improvement in results faces a severe test this weekend when they head off to play a promotion-chasing Chesterfield side looking for their fifth successive win. One crumb of hope for Grimsby though is the suspension of top scorer and ex-Mariner Jack Lester.

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


The Opposition

Overview

Despite being the 4th oldest Football League club in England, Chesterfield have spent most of their existence in the lower divisions of the English league. Their most notable successes came in the 1990s, when they won the Division Three play-off final at Wembley in 1995 and reached the FA Cup semi-finals two years later. In recent years they have struggled at the wrong end of League One. The season Grimsby got relegated from that division (2003/2004) Chesterfield survived by one point. In subsequent years they did a bit better but finally got relegated last season finishing fourth bottom. Former Chesterfield midfielder Lee Richardson was appointed as Chesterfield manager in April, following a spell as caretaker and has turned things around at Saltergate.

The Team
Chesterfield have a relatively small squad, but made several notable signings during the summer including former Mariner Jack Lester, who has already scored 17 goals this season. Midfielder Jamie Winter was released by Aberdeen and snapped up by Chesterfield. Other notable squad members who have been retained from the relegation side are Hungarian defender Janos Kovacs and keeper Irish Barry Roche. Lester's partner up front this season has been Jamie Ward (left), who has netted three goals. Manchester United midfielder Michael Barnes, said to be a hot prospect, has also just joined on loan until the end of the season as Chesterfield push for an automatic promotion place.

Key Player
Adam Rooney. The Ward-Lester partnership has meant that on-loan Stoke striker Adam Rooney (no relation!) has had to play in midfield, but that hasn't stopped him getting six goals. Rooney is likely to play up front in Lester's absence through suspension. The 20-year-old has had only limited chances at the Britannia Stadium, and last season had a spell at loan with Yeovil, before signing a long-term loan deal with Chesterfield at the end of August.

Recent Form

TownChesterfield
WChester(a)2-0
WLincoln(h)1-0
LAccrington(h)1-2
DStockport(a)1-1
WMansfield(h)1-0
Currently 17th in League Two.
WWrexham(h)2-1
WBarnet(a)2-0
WBury(a)1-0
WMansfield(h)2-0
LAccrington(a)1-2
Currently 04th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownChesterfield
Ciaran Toner4
Paul Bolland4
Gary Jones4
Danny Boshell4
Lester17
Rooney6

Team News

TownChesterfield

  • Ciaran Toner is Grimsby's only injury concern.

  • Nick Fenton will have to start the game on the bench due to the form of Rob Atkinson in Wednesday's win at Lincoln.

  • Danny North will be pushing for a starting place after impressing in the second half at Chester.
  • Top scorer Jack Lester is suspended for Chesterfield. The ex-Mariner has received five cautions this season.

  • The Spireites have signed Manchester United midfielder Michael Barnes on loan until the end of the season and he should be eligible to play against Town.

  • Stoke City have allowed striker Adam Rooney to extend his loan spell with the Spireites until the end of the season.
  • Probable Teams

    TownChesterfield
    G1Barnes
    D5Bennett
    D24Atkinson
    D3Newey
    M14Hird
    M8Bolland
    M11Boshell
    M4Hunt
    M17Hegarty
    F9North
    F19Jones
    G1Roche
    D4Lowry
    D2Kovacs
    D15Downes
    D11Robertson
    MTBABarnes
    M17Winter
    M8Niven
    M19Leven
    F20Rooney
    F7Ward

    Subs

    TownChesterfield
    13Montgomery
    6Fenton
    7Till
    20Taylor
    23Butler
    1O'Hare
    21Davies
    TBAJordan
    32Allison
    33Smith

    Head to Head

    Grimsby have the edge over Chesterfield in their 88 meetings to date, although the Spireites shade it at Saltergate. Town have only lost 3 of the last 10 away games against Chesterfield.

    P 88 W 37 D 24 L27 F 139 A 113

    Chesterfield Head-to-Head (24th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Chesterfield 4 Grimsby 4 (Sat 27th March 2004)

    An extraordinary game at Saltergate saw the lead change hands several times, before a dodgy injury time penalty robbed Grimsby of a win that would have meant they avoided relegation. The score ended 4-4, the crowd was 4,444 and the year was 2004!

     Report

    Prediction

    Chesterfield 2-1 Grimsby

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