The Shrimpers v The Spireites

March 4, 2016 by Alec Hitchman

The Shrimpers v The Spireites – Southend United v Chesterfield FC

Chesterfield are the visitors to Roots Hall on Saturday, with both sides looking to get back to winning ways following their failure to win on Tuesday night.

Last time out for Chesterfield, they drew 1-1 at home against Blackpool. They went 1-0 down in the 53rd minute when Brad Potts opened the scoring, but Blackpool’s lead only lasted four minutes. Jay O’Shea equalised for Chesterfield soon after. Last time out for Southend, we also drew 1-1 at home despite having gone behind. George Cooper’s free-kick put Crewe 1-0 up in the 86th minute but deep into stoppage time, Jack Payne squeezed a penalty past Ben Garratt in the Crewe goal. Tyrone Barnett had an penalty saved by Garratt in the first half.

The two sides have met 57 times in total. The first time was way back in 1939, when we drew 1-1. The most recent meeting was earlier this season, towards the back end of October, when Chesterfield comfortably beat Blues 3-0.

After Tuesday’s results, Southend are still in 8th place, as a result of Bradford’s defeat against Colchester. We are now only 1 point off the play-off places. Chesterfield currently sit in 18th place, 3 points above the relegation zone and 13 points behind Southend.

Overall Meetings

Chesterfield Wins: 23
Southend Wins: 20
Draws: 14

Who are Chesterfield FC?

Full Name: Chesterfield Football Club
Founded: 1867 (Original Club), 1919 (Current Club)
Nicknames: The Spireites
Ground: The Proact Stadium (Capacity: 10,504)
Manager: Danny Wilson
2014-15 Season: League One, 6th

Most Recent Line-Ups

Southend (v Crewe): Bentley (GK), Thompson, Bolger, Barrett, Coker, Atkinson (Payne 79’), Deegan, Wordsworth, McQueen (Worrall 58’), Mooney (Loza 58’), Barnett
Chesterfield (v Blackpool): Lee (GK), Talbot, Hird, Anderson, John, O’Neil, Dimaio (O’Shea 45’ – GOAL 57’), Ariyibi, Banks, Ebanks-Blake (Slew 86’), Novak

Last Time We Met – Tuesday 20th October 2015 - Chesterfield 3-0 Southend

Chesterfield: Lee (GK), Talbott, Evatt, Raglan, Jones, O’Shea, Herd (O’Neil 70’), Morsy, Gardner (Simons 75’), Novak (GOAL 8’), Ebanks-Blake (GOALS 37’ & 62’ – replaced by Dieseruvwe 72’)
Southend: Bentley (GK), White, Bolger, Prosser, Coker, Leonard, Wordsworth (Payne 63’), Timlin, Mooney (Hurst 71’), Pigott (Williams 79’), Weston

What Could Happen?

A win for Blues on Saturday would put us up to 6th and into the playoff places, but only if Bradford and Coventry both lose.
A win for Chesterfield would pull them further away from the bottom four places. They would only go up one place, but that’s only if Fleetwood lose.

High Fives – Chesterfield FC

Last Five Wins
Gillingham FC (A) – W 1-2 – Saturday 27th February 2016
Crewe Alexandra (H) – W 3-1 – Saturday 20th February 2016
Rochdale FC (A) – W 2-3 – Saturday – Saturday 7th January 2016
Shrewsbury Town (H) – W 7-1 – Saturday 2nd January 2016
FC United of Manchester (A) – W 1-4 – Monday 9th November 2015 – FA Cup 2nd Round

Last Five Defeats
Burton Albion (A) – L 1-0 – Friday 12th February 2016
Peterborough United (H) – L 0-1 – Saturday 6th February 2016
Millwall FC (H) – L 1-2 – Saturday 23rd January 2016
Wigan Athletic (A) – L 3-1 – Saturday 16th January 2016
Peterborough United (A) – L 2-0 – Saturday 26th December 2015

Last Five Draws
Blackpool FC (H) – D 1-1 – Tuesday 1st March 2016
Colchester United (A) – D 1-1 – Tuesday 16th February 2016
Coventry City (H) – D 1-1 – Monday 28th December 2015
Walsall FC (A) – D 0-0 – Tuesday 15th December 2015
Walsall FC (H) – D 1-1 – Saturday 5th December 2015

Last Five Meetings
Southend United (H) – W 3-0 – Tuesday 20th October 2015 – League One
Southend United (A) – L 3-0 – Saturday 18th January 2014 – League Two
Southend United (H) – L 1-3 – Saturday 7th December 2013 – FA Cup 2nd Round
Southend United (H) – W 2-1 – Saturday 24th August 2013 – League Two
Southend United (H) – L 0-1 – Saturday 26th January 2013 – League Two

Last Five Home Games
Blackpool FC (H) – D 1-1 – Tuesday 1st March 2016
Crewe Alexandra (H) – W 3-1 – Saturday 20th February 2016
Peterborough United (H) – L 0-1 – Saturday 6th February 2016
Millwall FC (H) – L 1-2 – Saturday 23rd January 2016
Shrewsbury Town (H) – W 7-1 – Saturday 2nd January 2016

Last Five Away Games
Gillingham FC (A) – W 1-2 – Saturday 27th February 2016
Colchester United (A) – D 1-1 – Tuesday 16th February 2016
Burton Albion (A) – L 1-0 – Friday 12th February 2016
Wigan Athletic (A) – L 3-1 – Saturday 16th January 2016
Rochdale FC (A) – W 2-3 – Saturday 9th January 2016

Chesterfield – "Four-2-Watch"

Goalkeeper – Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee has been a regular at Chesterfield since 2008. He has made 308 appearances in that time. He started his career at Manchester United, where he never played for the first team, although he did help the Manchester United reserve team win the quadruple.
He was then loaned to Macclesfield Town for three months, where he made 11 appearances before joining permanently in 2006. He remained at Macclesfield for two years, making 52 appearances. An 11 game loan spell at Rochdale followed, before he joined Chesterfield in the summer of 2008.

Defender – Ian Evatt
Evatt started his career at Derby County, just down the road from his hometown of Coventry. He made 34 appearances for the Rams without scoring. He remained there until 2003, when he spent 11 games on loan at Northampton Town, again, without scoring.
He then joined Chesterfield permanently in 2003, making 84 appearances and scoring 9 goals before leaving for Queens Park Rangers in 2005. He played 27 times for QPR without scoring. A loan spell at Blackpool between 2006-2007, in which he played 26 times, paved the way for a permanent switch to Lancashire from London.
Evatt signed permanently for Blackpool in 2007 and went on to make a total of 204 appearances, scoring 9 times. He was Blackpool’s only ever-present in their Premier League campaign between 2010-2011, playing in all 38 league games.
In 2013, following his release from Blackpool, Evatt re-joined Chesterfield, where he has since made 96 appearances and has scored 4 times. He is currently Chesterfield’s captain.

Midfielder – Gary Liddle
Liddle began his career at Middlesbrough, his hometown team, where he was handed a professional contract but failed to break into the first team. He was there between 2002-2006 before he joined Hartlepool United, who were then managed by current Chesterfield boss Danny Wilson.
Liddle made 247 appearances for Hartlepool, scoring 18 times. In his first season there, he won the "Player of the Season" award. He remained there between 2006-2012, when he was signed up by Notts County.
He would go on to make 78 appearances, scoring 4 times for "The Magpies". Liddle played every single second of the 2012-2013 season for Notts County. Due to this, he won FOUR awards at the club’s end of season awards ceremony: "Manager’s Player of the Year", "Players’ Player of the Year", "Fan’s player of the Year" and the "Supporters’ Club Player of the Year".
He remained at County until 2014, when he joined Bradford City. He made his debut in a 3-2 win over Coventry City at Valley Parade (Bradford’s Stadium). He went on to make a further 60 appearances for Bradford, scoring 3 times.
Liddle joined Chesterfield on 1st February 2016, which was also Transfer Deadline Day. He has since made three appearances and is yet to score for them.

Striker – Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Ebanks-Blake started his career at Manchester United. He made one two notable first team appearances between 2004-2006. He made his debut in a League Cup game against Crewe Alexandra in 2004, before scoring his first professional goal one year later in another League Cup match, this time, against Barnet FC.
United loaned Ebanks-Blake to Royal Antwerp in Belgium, in order to gain first team experience. He played 9 times for them and scored 4 goals.
Upon his return to England, Ebanks-Blake joined Plymouth Argyle who paid Manchester United £200,000 for his services. He went on to make 66 appearances for Argyle, scoring 21 times. He was a fan favourite at Plymouth between 2006-2008.
He was snapped up by Wolves in January 2008. He scored his first goal for them against Scunthorpe United, which was followed by an impressive run of 7 goals in the next 8 games. This form won him the "Championship Player of the Month" award in March 2008. In total, he made 177 appearances for Wolves, scoring 61 times, eight of which were in the Premier League. He was released by Wolves at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
Ipswich was his next stop, joining in December 2013, making his debut for them against Preston North End but then was substituted following an injury after half an hour. He made 9 appearances for Ipswich but failed to find the back of the net.
He joined Preston North End in January 2015, where he spent the remainder of the 2014-2015 season. He made 9 appearances, scoring once, against Yeovil Town.
Following his release from Preston, he joined Chesterfield in June 2015 and has since made 28 appearances, scoring 10 times (two of which were against Southend, back in October).

The Opposition View – N/A

"semi130497"

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chesterfield?
all my life 48 years. my name on here (the forum) semi130497 is a reference to the greatest game in our history v Middlesbrough fa cup semi

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
Improved a bit after a disastrous appointment of dean saunders. still disappointing after we made play offs last year. if we had kept that squad together we could have been "doing a Burton" this year

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
No one has really stood out and been consistently very good, a few have done well in patches. Novak I suppose

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
7-1 v shrewsbury is the obvious one after a terrible run of form

5. What are your views on Southend United?
enjoyed my visit there in 2000/2001, except for the 3-2 defeat. no dislike for you lots of dislike for the ref who put us down to 10 men against you a few years ago.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton obviously

7. Links – What are your views on former Chesterfield & current Southend midfielder Kevan Hurst and former Chesterfield & Southend midfielder Franck Moussa?
Kevan Hurst was bit under rated here I think, he is also from chesterfield. Moussa was great for us

8. Where do you expect both Chesterfield and Southend to finish this season?
we will just stay up I don't know about you ... 10th?

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
not coming this time

10. Which Chesterfield players should Southend fans look out for?
SEB (Ebanks-Blake) and Novak if on form

11. Score Prediction for the game
1-1

John

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chesterfield?
John, since 1994 - 26 years

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
Not good enough and ruined by an incapable manager and strange decisions from the boardroom

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
Lee Novak

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
The 7-1 thumping of Shrewsbury, we showed how we can play

5. What are your views on Southend United?
An inoffensive little team from Essex, managed by a man who got to close to a creosote sprayer.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton, but they started with a good manager and proper squad building

7. Links – What are your views on former Chesterfield & current Southend midfielder Kevan Hurst and former Chesterfield & Southend midfielder Franck Moussa?
KH - decent winger born in the parish, and FM - a quality midfielder who we should have pushed the boat out for to sign when we had him on loan

8. Where do you expect both Chesterfield and Southend to finish this season?
Us - lower midtable Southend - just missing out on the playoffs

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
Not attending, but have been before

10. Which Chesterfield players should Southend fans look out for?
Lee Novak & Gboly Ariybi

11. Score Prediction for the game
you'll win 2-1

Joe

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chesterfield?
Joe and all my life.

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
Shambolic. The season was ruined by the absolute stupidity displayed by the people at the top of the club. To appoint one, if not the worst manager the club has ever had in 150 years, Dean Saunders and let him blow the budget like he did on players, mostly not good enough, was an absolute disgrace. Sold all our best players at the start of the season and haven't replaced any, and some of the players don't try. We've also had lots of injuries this season which hasn't helped. We have been very poor at home, only 4 home wins all season, but have been reasonable good away.

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
Novak. He works really hard and is quality.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
Chesterfield 0-4 Swindon. Because Dean Saunders was sacked after that game.

5. What are your views on Southend United?
They're doing well, and they're always a tough side to play against and play good football.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton, Gillingham

7. Links – What are your views on former Chesterfield & current Southend midfielder Kevan Hurst and former Chesterfield & Southend midfielder Franck Moussa?
Franck Moussa is a very talented player and I would love to have him back. Kevan Hurst always seems to score against us, and I don't like him because of that.

8. Where do you expect both Chesterfield and Southend to finish this season?
Chesterfield 17th, and Southend 9th.

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
Not attending.

10. Which Chesterfield players should Southend fans look out for?
Lee Novak, Rai Simons, Gboly Ariyibi

11. Score Prediction for the game
Southend 3-1 Chesterfield

Mark

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chesterfield?
Mark. First game v Carlisle at home in 1992

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
Rubbish. The appointment of Dean Saunders was a disaster. Our fall from twelve months ago is gutting.

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
Tough one as I don't get to many games. Dan Jones was good before injury. Lee Novak has been great in patches but injuries have hampered him. Some of the younger players have shown flashes but are inconsistent.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
2:1 away at Walsall when they were top and we were Rubbish.

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Doing well after promotion. Looked a good side v Burton on the TV the other week. Don't like Phil Brown though.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Walsall, Burton. I doubt many predicted they would trouble the top 6.

7. Links – What are your views on former Chesterfield & current Southend midfielder Kevan Hurst and former Chesterfield & Southend midfielder Franck Moussa?
Always liked Hurst. Goo to see a local lad do well and he was great in out league cup run 9 years ish ago. Mousse was fantastic for us. Would be ideal now.

8. Where do you expect both Chesterfield and Southend to finish this season?
Mid table hopefully but I'm still very worried we will go down! You may trouble the playoffs

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
I won't be and have never been.

10. Which Chesterfield players should Southend fans look out for?
Ariyibi can be brilliant. He can also disappear. Lee Novak is in form and a top player in league one.

11. Score Prediction for the game
2:0 Southend unfortunately.

Dave

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chesterfield?
Dave, 50 years

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
Dreadful season thanks to the dreadful appoinment of Dean Saunders

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
Sam Morsey but he went cheaply to Wigan

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
CFC 7 - Shrewsbury 1 it could have been 10

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Always a tough team to beat home or away and always expect them to be in the running for the play-offs

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton by a mile

7. Links – What are your views on former Chesterfield & current Southend midfielder Kevan Hurst and former Chesterfield & Southend midfielder Franck Moussa?
Hursty is a class player but I'd give Diamonds to have Moussa back in our midfield

8. Where do you expect both Chesterfield and Southend to finish this season?
Southend 9th...CFC 15th

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
I've been to the last 3 and will be there on Saturday with my mates

10. Which Chesterfield players should Southend fans look out for?
All 11 plus the 3 subs

11. Score Prediction for the game
CFC win 2-1, we've got a good away record, if we could win at home we'd be in a play-off position, we've had no luck at all,especially with referees,we've had some right donkeys

Mark

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chesterfield?
Mark, first game was in 1975.

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
A struggle from September on, the longer Saunders had to implement his ideas the worse we got. Steady appointment with Wilson and given the recent incomings we should just stay up.

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
Novak, quality player who really puts a shift in.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
7-1 v Shrewsbury, one shining light amongst a very poor home season.

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Long way to drive and not really keen due to you current manager.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton, for obvious reasons.

7. Links – What are your views on former Chesterfield & current Southend midfielder Kevan Hurst and former Chesterfield & Southend midfielder Franck Moussa?
Both good players in their time here, no issues with either one.

8. Where do you expect both Chesterfield and Southend to finish this season?
Southend 8-10th, us a couple of places above the drop line.

9. If you are attending the game, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?
Not attending this year but been several times before.

10. Which Chesterfield players should Southend fans look out for?
Novak.

11. Score Prediction for the game
I'll take another point..1-1

This Weekend’s Other League One Fixtures

Bury FC v Bradford City
Coventry City v Rochdale FC
Crewe Alexandra v Burton Albion
Doncaster Rovers v Shrewsbury Town
Fleetwood Town v Sheffield United
Millwall FC v Blackpool FC
Oldham Athletic v Swindon Town
Port Vale v Colchester United
Scunthorpe United v Gillingham FC
Walsall FC v Barnsley FC
Wigan Athletic v Peterborough United

League One Table

1. Burton Albion – 67 points
2. Wigan Athletic – 63 points
3. Walsall FC – 59 points
4. Gillingham FC – 58 points
5. Millwall FC – 55 points
6. Coventry City – 52 points
7. Barnsley FC – 52 points
8. Southend United – 51 points
9. Bradford City – 51 points
10. Port Vale – 49 points
11. Swindon Town – 48 points
12. Sheffield United – 48 points
13. Bury FC – 47 points
14. Scunthorpe United – 46 points
15. Rochdale FC – 45 points
16. Peterborough United – 44 points
17. Fleetwood Town – 39 points
18. Chesterfield FC – 38 points
19. Doncaster Rovers – 37 points
20. Shrewsbury Town – 37 points
21. Blackpool FC – 35 points
22. Oldham Athletic – 34 points
23. Crewe Alexandra – 29 points
24. Colchester United – 27 points