Chesterfield’s first Vertu Trophy game of the season takes place tonight as the Spireites travel to fellow League Two side Crewe Alexandra.
The midweek fixture will be a distraction for the Spireites from their league campaign, which saw them most recently draw 2-2 with Crawley Town at the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday.
Although Paul Cook will not value the competition as much as the league, he will still want an impressive showing from his side before also facing Burton Albion and Liverpool U21s in Group H of the Northern Section later in autumn.
Last match
After a successful day out at Harrogate Town, the Blues returned home last weekend for an emotional game against Crawley, which marked the sad passing of co-owner Phil Kirk just days earlier.
After a minute’s applause to pay tribute to his legacy at the club, the game kicked off, but not in the way all Spireites would have hoped for.
Just nine minutes in, forward Harry McKirdy pounced on a lack of awareness from Kyle McFadzean and rounded goalkeeper Zach Hemming before rolling the ball into an open net.
Although the hosts began to create chances, the Red Devils were given an opportunity to double their lead when McFadzean was penalised for fouling Kaheim Dixon inside the penalty area, much to the displeasure of the Spireites team and fans.
McKirdy made no mistake and fired the ball down the middle of the goal, evading Hemming’s dive, to convert his second goal of the game and the season.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, the visitors also began the second 45 on top and thought they had theirs and McKirdy’s third goal of the game, with the striker flicking Ade Adeyemo’s cross into the far corner.
However, he was ruled to be offside and the goal did not count.
From then on, the home side kicked into action and after 56 minutes pulled one back through Dylan Duffy.
The attacking midfielder collected a throw-in from the right and cut inside before quickly curling the ball into the bottom left side of the net to roar the supporters on.
Just minutes later, a well-worked counterattack led to Armando Dobra latching on to Vontae Daley-Campbell’s cross and whipping the ball into the bottom corner, past Liverpool loanee Harvey Davies.
In the last half an hour, despite constant pressure from the hosts and a series of chances for Lee Bonis, it was Crawley’s Dixon who had the best chance to take all three points.
Scott Lindsey’s side hit the home side on the counter and, having been played onside tightly by Liam Mandeville, Dixon raced towards Hemming but was slowed down by the keeper and messed up his opportunity before Lewis Gordon recovered to clear the ball away.
Cook’s team had to settle for just a point, taking them on to 13 and keeping them in second place, now behind Gillingham.
Spireites team news
Despite not signing a left-sided centre-back on transfer deadline day, which many fans felt was a must, all Spireites would have been delighted to see Armando Dobra stay in north Derbyshire.
The Albanian youth international rose into the club’s top 50 all-time goal scorers with Saturday’s finish and will hopefully lead the Blues to promotion come the end of the season.
On the injury front, Cook’s options could be helped by the return of James Berry, who is expected to feature tonight against the Railwaymen.
Fellow loanee Devan Tanton is also nearing his comeback but may not be risked as soon as this week.
With Luke Butterfield and Gunner Elliott the only certain absences, Cook will have plenty of options to choose from in what is likely to be a heavily rotated team.
Despite needing to adhere to the EFL’s player selection rules for the competition, the likes of Ryan Boot, Ryheem Sheckleford, Adam Lewis, Jamie Grimes, John Fleck, Liam Mandeville and Liam Jessop could be given their first appearances/starts of the season.
One new face who is likely to feature is new signing Will Dickson, whose loan move from Manchester City was the Blues’ only piece of business on deadline day.
The 20-year-old striker could make his senior debut on Tuesday night if selected to start over Bonis and Will Grigg.
Opposition news
Chesterfield’s opponents Crewe have had a similarly positive start to the season, picking up just one point less, after finishing 13th last year following a poor second half of the campaign.
As well as bringing in several Premier League youngsters on loan, boss Lee Bell recruited experienced forwards Louis Moult and Josh Marsh, as well as deadline day trio Dion Rankine, Harvey Griffiths and Jay Mingi.
Tuesday’s hosts’ squad also includes captain Mickey Demetriou, who has made almost 400 EFL appearances, and striker Omar Bogle, who has played for 11 different sides in the Football League.
They come into the Vertu Trophy game in bad form, having lost their last two games against Swindon Town and Gillingham.
Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at home to the Robins saw Ian Holloway’s side have 19 shots compared to the hosts’ nine and go three goals up after 41 minutes, which included an assist for ex-Spireite Darren Oldaker.
42-year-old Bell took up the manager’s position in December 2022, which was his first senior managerial position having progressed through roles within the club’s academy.
In his 148 games in charge, he has won 54, drawn 43 and lost 51, producing a win rate of 36.5%.
Previous encounter
Last season’s two clashes between the sides were packed with goals, producing nine in total.
August’s 5-0 victory for the Blues was the perfect first away day back in the EFL but they fell to a 3-1 defeat at home at the start of March, which was the third in a run of four straight losses.
Two early goals from Shilow Tracey and Max Conway gave the visitors a lead which they held up until the 87th minute when Dylan Duffy pulled one back, but Tom Lowery’s added-time third secured the win.
Chesterfield 1-3 Crewe Alexandra, 1 March 2025:
Spireites lineup: Ryan Boot, Janoi Donacien (Liam Mandeville), Ash Palmer, Jamie Grimes, Jack Sparkes, Darren Oldaker (Michael Jacobs), Jenson Metcalfe (John Fleck), Michael Olakigbe (Dylan Duffy), Paddy Madden (Ollie Banks), Armando Dobra, Bim Pepple; Bench – Max Thompson, Tom Naylor
Match details
Crewe Alexandra v Chesterfield
Vertu Trophy – Northern Group H
Tuesday 2 September
19:45 KO
SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield
Gresty Road, Crewe
