Lee Richardson elected to rest Steve Fletcher for the Carling Cup tie at Bramall Lane tonight, leading the way for two former United men - Jack Lester and Wayne Allison - to combine up front. Other than that it was "as you were" from Chester last Saturday. Richardson went without a keeper on the bench again, where Lowry, Kevin Gray, Smith, Fletcher and O'Hare stood by.
United made six changes to the side held 2-2 by Colchester at the weekend; Lucketti, Montgomery, Hendrie, Gillespie, Beattie and Sharp were all rested, while Bromby played for the injured Morgan.
Naysmith picked up a knock with only 30 seconds on the clock after coming out second-best in a 50-50 with Jack Lester. Chesterfield's front three pushed up on the United defence to prevent Kenny rolling the ball out, and were able to repel punted balls through Downes and Kovacs. Tonge fouled Niven on 6 as the Spireites looked hungrier. Naysmith was replaced by Alan Quinn on 9.
Winter's shot on 11 was blocked by Leigertwood. United took the lead against the run of play on 14. Webber nicked the ball back after Downes and Picken got into a tangle and shot; Roche parried but the ball came to STEAD, who put it away.
Chesterfield came back at their hosts; Allison got his head to Picken's cross but, in trying to put pace on it, he sacrificed direction. Ward took the ball forward on 17 and crossed for LESTER to go in where it hurt and equalise, getting a boot in his face for his troubles. The Spireites continued to press and Kovacs found himself on the end of an Allison header; Kilgallon got the slightest of touches and it was enough to prevent the Hungarian from getting an accurate effort in. Lester powered a shot from 25 yards on 20 and Kenny parried it, but the referee saw it as a goal kick.
Lee Richardson's side were taking the game to United with sharp movement and good passing to add to what appeared to be a greater desire. United were taking their time in adapting to the visitors' formation that enabled players to press the United men. Geary made a hash of a clearance on 25, slicing it behind for a corner. Winter curled the kick into the 6-yard box but Carney brought the ball clear. Winter picked up a yellow card on 26 for a halfway-line foul on Tonge that prevented United attacking. Niven's 28th-minute shot from Lester's set-up screwed across the box but Ward kept the pressure on, and Kilgallon was forced to foul Leven 30 yards out. Lester's free kick cleared the wall, but cleared the framework of the goal, too.
Ward went down injured on 32 after bursting past Geary; Webber shot at Roche but the concern was with the injured Chesterfield man, who was replaced by Adam Smith in the 34th minute. Stead backheeled it to Quinn on 36 and Roche produced a fine save to deny the United man at the expense of a corner, which Winter cleared. A lovely move involving Robertson, Winter and Smith produced a corner off Leigertwood, which Carney cleared.
A combination of Ward's withdrawal and changes in United's tactical approach brought a more even look to the contest as half time approached. Armstrong conceded a corner on 44 and Downes and Kovacs strode up for it, but Bromby headed the flag kick away. Chesterfield kept possession and Picken played in a high ball for Downes, who stayed up, and another corner resulted. Webber broke dangerously and Picken did well to get a tackle in. Bromby found STEAD who restored United's lead on the stroke of half time.
Halftime: United 2 Spireites 1
Webber broke through on 47 and there were calls for a penalty among Unitedites, at least, as the United man was pressured into slicing the ball wide. Carney got forward onto Stead's lay-off and found Armstrong, who shot narrowly wide. Smith played in a great cross on 50 and Kilgallon switched off, allowing Lester to try to work a chance into a goal. Both sides were playing a full part in an open game. Picken got clear and approached the box before crossing to Allison who peeled off his man and won the header at the far post. Kenny saved it but The Chief was unable to convert the rebound.
United won a corner through Webber on 53 as Picken took treatment from Jamie Hewitt on the sidelines. Leigertwood's shot from the corner was deflected for another, which was again deflected behind to shouts of "Handball" from the home fans. Kovacs headed the third corner clear but WEBBER picked the loose ball up and took it into the box before crashing the ball home on 55.
Carney broke the offside trap on 57 but Roche did well to force him away. Stead pulled the ball back after Geary crossed and Carney shot but a Spireite foot conceded another corner. Chesterfield were awarded a free kick on the edge of the United box on the hour, but Leven sliced his shot high and wide.
Niven went in to block a through ball but it flew goalwards, and Roche had to be alert to turn it round for a corner. The Spireites brought Lowry on for Allison on 66, leaving Lester as a lone frontman while reinforcing the midfield, which had been made to work hard since halftime.
The visitors won a corner on 70 and Downes rose to meet the kick, but Kenny was able to get up and turn it away for another corner. Downes headed the second one back across the box but it was cleared. Downes cleared a cross and Quinn returned the ball to Stead, but he drove a good chance wide on 75.
Niven skipped into the box but drove the ball at Bromby. Niven drove the Spireites forward again and Lester forged a great chance but shot narrowly wide.
Geoff Horsfield came on for Stead and Shelton replaced Webber, on 79. Horsfield returned a ball to Geary, whose shot was parried but Shelton couldn't get his effort on target.
United began to slow it down in the last ten minutes, as the game looked to drift away from the Spireites. Lester, whose commitment remained strong throughout, was booked for a foul on Kilgallon on 82. Shelton's 84th-minute shot went rather closer to the goal than Roche imagined it might, and it shaved the outside of the upright as the goalie looked on. Chesterfield came up for a last hurrah won a couple of corners, but the sharp Spireite edge that was evident in the first half had blunted, somewhat, as the game entered its final stages.
Full-time: United 3 Spireites 1
Chesterfield will take heart from the way they exploited their formation to take the game to their Championship hosts in the first half, but will work on keeping their shape better when not in possession; a three-man midfield can pressure further up the field but can also get dragged to one side or the other allowing pressure to be put on the opposite, unsupported full-back. Perhaps the injury to Ward will lead to our employing two solid banks of four behind a front two on Saturday, while the experience of Kevin Gray might be used to our advantage.
