BOSS COOK COOLS TALK OF PLAY-OFFS
Spireites blunt the Blades in derby
THE SCALP of Sheffield United is another new peak for Chesterfield’s joyride under Paul Cook – but he applied the brakes to talk of the play-offs.
The Blades love a Steel City derby and this local clash was forged in just as much fire as two first-half red cards made for a spicy affair.
Spireites keeper Tommy Lee and United’s Michael Higdon were both sent off before the break but it was all Chesterfield as Jimmy Ryan and Gary Roberts struck.
Eoin Doyle made it three before the Blades threatened to spoil Chesterfield’s party late on through efforts from Marc McNulty and Neill Collins.
This was to be the Spireites’ day however, and before Cook dares to dream about successive promotions, he insists there are more challenges to overcome.
“It was everything we wanted the game to be, it had everything that I love about football,” he said.
“Fortunately for us we came out on the good end of a result, on another day it can go against you, but that’s the nature of the game and I think all the lads deserve to take all the credit.
“I have so much faith and confidence in them to keep going and play football, I always knew we could score goals although we conceded two which is always the downside.
“It’s a great day for Chesterfield and I hope everyone can enjoy it, but at the same time it’s just one game.
“It’s great to beat a team like Sheffield United, but we shouldn’t wallow in it. We move on to the next game.”
The Blades thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Higdon headed in a James Wallace cross before being adjudged offside.
But the first red of the afternoon could have been shown even earlier after Georg Margreitter appeared to pull back Jamie Murphy when clear through on goal.
Then the pendulum well and truly swung the Spireites way midway through the first half, Ryan belting a fine strike from the edge of the area to get his team off the mark.
Then Higdon’s late lunge on Daniel Jones – who needed lengthy treatment in the centre circle before playing on – earned the striker his marching orders moments later.
Chesterfield lost their numerical advantage in the 41st minute when Ian Evatt’s poor chest-down forced last man Lee to bring down Ryan Flynn.
That took out none of the hosts’ spark however as a super solo run from Roberts saw him slot past Mark Howard on the stroke of half-time.
The Spireites continued to carve out chances and Doyle struck in the 73rd minute, latching onto a deflected shot from Daniel Johnson, before United put the frighteners on the hosts with their late really.
McNulty pounced on a loose ball following a fumble from substitute goalkeeper Myles Wright while Collins was on mark with an injurytime header, as the Spireites clung on.
However, Blades boss Nigel Clough insisted the first red to come out of ref- eree Mark Brown’s pocket should have been for Margreitter’s foul on Murphy.
“Decisions unfortunately went against us,” said Clough. “I don’t like talking about referees and linesmen but their decisions had a major impact on the game.
“Jamie Murphy goes through one on one on goal and gets bought down and their player gets a yellow card, if that wasn’t a goal scoring opportunity I don’t know what is.
“I’m just waiting to go and see the officials and get their explanations about it all.
“Overall our showing was not bad but we are just conceding too many goals. Their first one was an absolute screamer, the second one is a mistake from our defence and the third I thought was offside.
“Not a lot went for us.We knocked it about well and scored two goals away from home, we should be able to get at least a point with that type of show.”