MATCH PREVIEW: CHESTERFIELD (A)

Chesterfield vs Boreham Wood
Saturday, 23rd March 2024, 3:00 pm
SMH Group Stadium, Vanarama National League

PREVIEW

Tomorrow afternoon, The Wood head Northbound on the M1 to Chesterfield where we are set to face the league leaders in front of the TNT Sports cameras. The Spireites come into our clash tomorrow a win away from being crowned Vanarama National League champions and will be eager to make it over the line. Our previous meeting with Chesterfield came back in October when the Spireites paid a visit to Meadow Park. It would be the visitors that came away with the 3 points after a 2-0 win, however, adding to their huge tally of 92 points at the top of the table. The Wood, on the other hand, will be looking to spoil the party with a win, the lads need your support!

FORM GUIDE

Chesterfield – L-D-W-W-L

Despite their 21-point lead at the top of the Vanarama National League table, Paul Cook’s side have experienced a rather turbulent run of form recently. The Spireites sit 9th in the form guide after picking up 3 wins while losing twice and drawing once in their previous 6 in the league, accruing 10 points from a possible 18. Chesterfield drew the curtain on their February against Barnet, doing so with a comfortable 2-0 win away at the Hive. Michael Jacob’s gave the league leaders a 1-0 advantage just before the 30th minute mark with Tom Naylor doubling the lead with 11 minutes of the 90 remaining. The Spireites then made another trip down south, this time to Surrey where they would take on Dorking Wanderers, a game Paul Cook’s side would have been expected to win. However, against the odds, the Wanderers came away with the win and did so in emphatic fashion. Marc White’s side were 2-0 up inside 25 minutes, with Ash Palmer pulling one back for the Spireites on the stroke of half-time. There would be no comeback for Paul Cook’s side however, as Dorking further extended their lead. A day to forget for Chesterfield may be putting it lightly, as the game ended 4-1 to the home side.

This was followed by another game which saw a 4-1 score line, this time in favour of the league leaders as they hosted AFC Fylde. Armando Dobra, Mike Jones, Will Grigg and Ash Palmer all got on the scoresheet for the Spireites with Danny Ormerod pulling one back for their visitors from the Fylde coast. Paul Cook’s side would build on the win over the Coasters, this time in a 2-0 win over rock-bottom of the league, Oxford City. It didn’t take long for the Spireites to take the lead with Will Grigg breaking the deadlock before a minute had been played. Tom Naylor doubled their advantage in the 55^th minute and the home side saw the game out, securing a clean sheet. On the Saturday that followed, Chesterfield would make the trip across to the North-West to take on play-off chasers, Oldham Athletic. The points were shared in a 2-2 draw, despite the Latics taking a 2-0 lead with Bailey Hobson and Joe Quigley levelling for the league leaders. Finally, Paul Cook’s side would hit the road again, this time travelling to Halifax in what they hoped would be their crowning moment. The Shaymen ran out 4-2 winners, however, denying the Spireites the Vanarama National League trophy for now. Luke Garrard will be hoping that his side can replicate that Halifax performance tomorrow afternoon on our trip to Derbyshire, in a crucial game for both sides.

ONES TO WATCH

Will Grigg:

Will Grigg, you may have heard of him, the Northern Irishman that became not only a national but global sensation due to a famous terrace chant, has played a pivotal role for Paul Cook’s side in their quest for a League Two return this season. The 32-year-old striker, who has been capped 13 times for Northern Ireland and is formerly of the likes of Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, Brentford and Rotherham United, has bagged a whopping 25 goals in the league this season, averaging a goal every 109 minutes. The Spireites’ main man is certainly on fire, scoring 7 in his previous 10 appearances and will be aiming for the 30-goal-mark. Grigg will be eager to get on the scoresheet tomorrow afternoon and will need to be contained by the Wood back line as Luke Garrard and his men aim for the upset.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW