Chesterfield were thumped at home to Sheffield United by four
goals to one as League One action resumed.
The hosts had taken a second minute lead with Chesterfield
winning the tie at the break. A more solid second half
performance saw the Blades rip the Spirites in two and although
they themselves had opportunities to score, couldn't prevent
efforts from Kieron Freeman, John Fleck, Billy Sharp and
substitute Leon Clarke all finding the net.
Blades boss Chris Wilder made a number of changes, recalling
the first team squad whom had been rested in the last two cup
victories over Leyton Orient and Grimsby Town. As well as the
presence of live Sky TV the game had been built up with the
return of Ched Evans to face his former club for the first time.
There was however further ex-Blade connection with manager Danny
Wilson and his assistant returning.
It was Chesterfield who kicked off the match and made the
better start despite being bottom of the league. Evans collected
a pass and having got the better of Basham found NOLAN on the
edge of the box; he ran through and smashed home beyond Moore in
front of the travelling United supporters.
It took United a while to get into the game as the hosts
bullied the Blades during the first half period and it took until
eighth minute until the visitors created their first chance on
goal. Freeman and Sharp were involved in the build up play but
the ball eventually fell to Lafferty but his right footed effort
went straight to the hands of Fulton. Done then saw his header
tipped round the post and United won three consecutive corners
but shortly afterwards a whistle happy referee broke up play.
Chesterfield defended their lead whilst United, with Coutts,
Fleck and Duffy looked to attack from midfield. Despite holding
possession the visitors created too few opportunities as they
struggled to break the Spirites down. Of the few chances, Fulton
easily held Duffy's shot but had to react smoothly to prevent
Sharp's deflected shot from dropping in underside of the
crossbar. The final chance of the half fell to the hosts. An
O'Shea corner found the head of Evatt with United clearing after
the ball crashed against the crossbar.
Referee Christopher Sarginson cautioned Chesterfield for time
wasting during the early exchanges of the second 45 minutes and
both sides saw opportunities in front of goal with Evans and
Sharp both testing the opposing keepers.
The hosts stuck 11 men behind the ball, making it difficult
for the Blades to forge chances but thankfully the Blades
wouldn't be far away from levelling the scores and force Wilson
into rethinking his tactics. Patient play resulted in Fleck
chipping a ball into the box and FREEMAN reacted quickest at the
far post to head home.
Evans was handed a glimmer of a chance to restore the hosts
lead before he hobbled off injured. A break away saw the former
Blade charge down the right flank and after cutting in shot but
Moore parried away with no other blue shirt in sight. At the
other end, Lafferty headed wide a Basham cross and Done failed to
drill home Freeman's delivery.
Wilder threw on Clarke to face his former club and he proved
to be a menace as United would soon net two quick-fire goals in
the space of a minute to put this fixture to bed. Within five
minutes of Clarke's arrival for Jake Wright the Blades were
rewarded. On 72 minutes Duffy and FLECK combined and the latter,
with time and space, drilled the ball from distance beyond the
keeper from 20 yards.
The majority of the 2,761 travelling support were still
bouncing up and down in celebration when Clarke, in the middle
fed Duffy through in the right and his pivotal cross to the far
post saw SHARP peel away from his marker to head home the
simplest of goals.
Chesterfield frantically made attempts to get back into the
match, Anderson headed straight at Moore and Wilder made a
tactical change, switching to three central defenders. With nine
minutes remaining there would be another goal from united and one
would certainly kill off the game. Gaps in the home defence, and
a few passes later saw a neat pass fall straight to CLARKE who
swivelled and hit first time, curling home beyond Fulton into the
bottom left corner.
It was all that the home faithful could have taken. Of the
supporters which had stayed after the third goal, the majority
made way for the exit, leaving the most diehard of fan to sit out
till the end. United could have used the final moments to time
waste but instead they surged forward, hunting for more goals.
Sadly they never came but the Spities could have reduced the
deficit had O'Shea, with only the keeper to beat not screwed his
sitter wide at close range.
Chesterfield: Fulton, Liddle, Evatt, Evans
(Dennis 66), O'Neill, Dimaio, Nolan (Humphreys 69), Donohoe,
Anderson, O'Shea, Ariyibi. Unused: Mitchell, Allinson, Simons,
Maguire, German.
Sheffield United: Moore, Fleck, Basham, Sharp
(Lavery 90), Done (O'Connell 78), Wright (Clarke 68), Coutts,
Freeman, Ebanks-Landell, Duffy, Lafferty. Unused: Long, Scougall,
Brown, Whiteman.
Source: DSG