MATCH PREVIEW: Chesterfield
Last updated : 31 October 2009 By Jaybee
This weekend, Barnet travel to Chesterfield in a League two match. Barnet have lost their last four away matches, including three in the league and will be looking to get something from this match. However, like the previous three away league matches, it is against a good side and it will likely prove to be a difficult task for the Bees.
Barnet got back to winning ways last Saturday with a 3-0 home win over bottom club, Darlington and the win took them up to 6th place in the table. However, Chesterfield also had a good weekend, winning comfortably by 5-2 against in form Burton Albion, a win that took the spireites up to 8th in the table, just one point behind the Bees.
Chesterfield are unbeaten in their last four matches and like the Bees, they are unbeaten at home, having only failed to win one of seven matches in the league at Saltergate so far this season. Their away form is poor and they have lost five out of seven matches on their travels, but if the Bees are to come away from Saltergate with anything at all, they will have to be at their best.
Chesterfield were relegated from League One in 2007 and they finished 8th in League Two the following season. Last season, they finished 10th and having come quite close to the play-offs the last two years, manager, John Sheridan will be looking to finish in the top seven at least this time around.
During the summer, Sheridan strengthened his defence with the signing of the experienced central defender, Ian Breckin from Nottingham Forest. Breckin is in his second spell at Saltergate having already made over 200 league appearances for the Spireites. In midfield, Sheridan has signed Mark Allott from Oldham. Like Breckin, Allott is in his second spell at Chesterfield. The former Sheffield Wednesday midfield player, Wade Small has also arrived to add further strength to the squad.
Sheridan has also made use of the loan system and has brought in the diminutive midfield player, David Perkins from Colchester and the highly promising Manchester City youngster Donal McDermott to play up front with the prolific Jack Lester. McDermott has scored five goals this season so far and will be a handful for the Bees defence, while Lester, who scored twice on the opening day of last season at Underhill, has scored 49 league goals for the Spireites since moving from Nottm Forest two years ago.
Chesterfield could have experienced defender, Robert Page available to return this afternoon, but the highly rated Jamie Lowry is set to miss the rest of the season. His place could go to Mark Little, who this week had his loan from Wolves extended by another month.
The Bees' only doubt is right back, Ryan O'Neill who has an ankle injury. However, Joe Devera is set to continue on the right side of the defence. Ian Hendon must decide on whether to bring in Nicky Deverdics and Jake Hyde who played so well last Saturday after coming on as substitutes.
There is no doubt that the game at Chesterfield is going to be a tricky one for Barnet, but the Bees have performed well there in the last two seasons, winning 1-0 in 2007 and gaining a 1-1 draw last season. With the Bees, and Barnet Mad's predictions, seeing a return to form last week, we are going to be optimistic and go for a point gained in a1-1 draw.
