OPPOSITION Q&A
Phil discusses Chesterfield FC
SEASON SO FAR
Take out the 100-club and it’s been very good. The current points per game average is exactly the same as in the team’s last Championship season, League Two, also under Paul Cook in his first spell. But it feels very different due to Langstaff and Holywood, so there’s an element of disappointment that only a play-off final win will erase.
HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday’s comeback from 2-0 down at home to Eastleigh. Two poor first half concessions, team booed off at the break, then virtual one-way traffic from Chesterfield with one pulled back on 72 minutes and the equaliser coming on 88, but the head of steam was so powerful, even at that late stage it felt like a win would come, so when on 90+5 Andrew Dallas hit a beauty, the stadium erupted and we were back in third spot.
FORM
23 points in 10 games which followed a run of 9 without a win. Away form has been better than home form, but the Eastleigh win has hopefully got that sorted. Most games are possession dominated by Chesterfield, but good positions in the final third haven’t always led to gilt edged chances and some gilt edged chances haven’t always led to goals, so there’s often an element of frustration, led by the fact that Wrexham and Notts disappeared over the other side of the hill some time ago.
PLAY-OFF CHANCES?
Very much so. We’re all desperate for third spot having started in the eliminators in the last two seasons and going out at Solihull Moors in the semi-final a year ago. The general consensus is a Wembley date with County and, despite only picking up one point against them, we were the better side and extremely unlucky in both games. None of the other contenders frighten us.
KEY PLAYERS
Ryan Colclough is on fire at the moment down the left with Liam Mandeville on the right also in fine fettle. Andrew Dallas is yet to get to his undoubted best, but his winner on Saturday will have given him a major confidence lift. In front of the back four, Mike Jones breaks up play with metronomic regularity.
THE MANAGER
Paul Cook is a fantastic manager, a Champion with Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic. He’s a devoted 4-2-3-1 man, looking to play on the deck and when the team is on song, it’s a beautiful watch. It can be a tough watch when the opposition is only interested in a point and they stick the team bus on the edge of the box, but as Torquay United desperately need a win, if that means a more open game, that will suit our tactics. Don’t be surprised if our full-backs are the furthest men up front.
THE LINE-UP
The Gaffer has a ‘keep a winning team’ mentality, but the weekend win turned when the subs came on, so I’d predict a couple of changes, with Dallas and McCallum coming in to make it: Fitzsimons; King, Palmer, Grimes, Maguire; Jones, Banks; Mandeville, Dallas, Colclough; McCallum. Subs: Horton, Uchegbulam, Quigley, Oldaker, Asante.
CROWDS
This season has seen the highest average crowd since we moved to the current stadium in 2010, it’s been incredible. Night games invariably have a lower attendance than Saturdays, but I expect the attendance to be in the 6000 region. The club did a ‘last four games for the price of three’ offer which went well and will ensure a decent crowd.
REFRESHMENTS
Bang across the road, there’s a new venue which wasn’t there for The Gulls’ last visit, The Batch House, which has a great selection of varied food and decent beer, whilst The Derby Tup just up the road is a legendary real ale house. Plenty of takewaays nearby and if you just want a cuppa after arriving on the coach, there’s a cafe in the East Stand next to where the supporters’ coaches park. Take a look at the club’s excellent Memorial Garden across from the cafe, well worth a few minutes of time.
PREDICTION
When the only team in the division with a WWWWW including three of them being in vital relegation head to heads, comes to town, you have to take things seriously, and having the opportunity to overhaul Aldershot and catch York and Maidenhead, with Aldershot and York playing each other on Saturday, a Torquay win is almost a must for you guys. But the opportunity for us to go five clear of Woking, who are not in action on Tuesday, will see us get over the line ahead of what’s sure to be a tough trip to Bromley at the weekend. We’ve not won back to back home games in the National League since January, but I think that run will end with a 2-0 home win.
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