Chesterfield 0-0 Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town claimed a well earned point at Chesterfield, with the game finishing 0-0 at the Proact Stadium.The Cod Army created numerous chances throughout but were unable to break the deadlock. A stand out positive from the match was the debut of youth team graduate Keano Deacon.
Manager Steven Pressley made five changes to his starting line-up for the game against Danny Wilson’s men.
Stevie Jordan and Tyler Forbes returned from injury to join Amari’i Bell and Marcus Nilsson at the back. Joe Davis dropped out through injury whilst Conor McLaughlin was absent due to international commitments with Northern Ireland.
David Henen started in attack alongside Ash Hunter and David Ball. Henen and Hunter stepped in for Shola Ameobi, who picked up an injury against Barnsley, and Wes Burns who is currently representing Wales’ U21 squad.
The final change came in midfield as Sheffield United loan man Stefan Scougall made his first start for the Club, changing places with Eggert Jonsson who was named on the bench.
Another notable inclusion in the matchday squad was skipper Nathan Pond, who has fully recovered from a thigh injury he sustained at the beginning of February against Shrewsbury Town.
Forbes, starting at right back, made a strong start on his return to the team. His first contribution was a goal saving tackle to stop Jay O’Shea from handing Chesterfield the lead in the third minute.
Two minutes later, a beautiful through ball down the right wing by Forbes played in Hunter to cross for Bell at the back post, but from a tight angle he was quickly closed down to see his effort blocked.
Fleetwood contained Chesterfield for the first 24 minutes, but the hosts had a big opportunity to take the lead. Breaking free down the left, O’Shea played a short ball inside for the run of Ollie Banks, who tricked his way past Nillson to bend an effort over the crossbar.
At the other end, Ball attempted an ambitious effort from a tight angle on the left, causing Tommy Lee little concern in the Chesterfield goal.
The game sprang into life as both teams started to find space to attack. Fleetwood arguably had the better of the chances as Henen forced Lee into a save from 20-yards, and Ball missed a glorious chance to flick home Hunter’s cross from the right hand side.
The first half’s best chance was saved until last, a cross field pass from left to right by Ariybi picked out O’Shea to first time knock a central ball to Novak who completely got his angles wrong and touched wide.
Into the second half, and Town raced out of the blocks, firing in front of their own supporters housed in the away stand at the Proact Stadium.
Henen, on his return to first team action, hammered a 20-yard strike inches wide of the right hand post. One minute later, Forbes burst forward from defence, dragging a right footed shot a fraction wide of the left hand post.
The Spirities, perched just above Fleetwood in the League One table ahead of kick-off, created their first opening of the half in the 55th minute, as O’Shea unleashed a rasping effort from just inside the penalty box which creeped over the cross bar.
Fleetwood’s first change came one minute before the hour mark, Devante Cole coming on for midfielder Grant.
A moment to saviour for youth team graduate Deacon in the 65th minute, as he came on for his first team debut, replacing Henen on the left wing.
With ten minutes to go, nice build up play from the Cod Army resulted in Hunter driving a half volley over, with goalkeeper Lee back peddling. Fleetwood’s final change quickly followed as Scougall was replaced by Jonsson.
Again Hunter came close to breaking the deadlock, unmarked in the penalty area, Bell picked the attacker out but his first time side foot was saved by Lee.
Chesterfield nearly nicked all three points with three minutes remaining, as Lee Novak rose above Fleetwood’s two central defenders but his header missed the target fractionally.
Deacon missed a late opportunity for Fleetwood but the Cod Army had to settle for a point ahead of next weekend's trip to Swindon Town.