Martin Allen pre Salford

This Saturday sees the two pre season title favourites lock horns for the first time ever, as Chesterfield travel up to Salford. Ahead of this highly anticipated fixture, Spireites manager Martin Allen has been speaking to Spire Media.

Firstly, Allen spoke of his decision to bring in experienced winger Kyel Reid, who joins the club having wracked up over 300 appearances in the Football League.

“I had a phone call from my boss on the Wednesday morning, suggesting that we perhaps get another player in and asked if I’d like to. I said that Kyel was available, and that he was within our price range, and they gave me the go ahead to do it.

“He’s a good addition with good experience. He’s got a good character and personality and I think he’s going to be good for our club.”

Allen also said that Reid is available for selection for Saturday’s trip to Salford and will go straight into the 16 man squad.

Tuesday night saw the Spireites taste defeat for the first time this season, with Ian Evatt’s Barrow seeing off Chesterfield 3-2. The gaffer describes the northern club as competitive and well organised, traits that have no doubt been passed on from the former Chesterfield captain.

“They had a long thrower, who made it very difficult to get out of our half at times.

“I thought they were a good team and that our players matched up to them very well. We were very unlucky to go 1-0 down when we’d had the best chance. If that would’ve gone in it probably would’ve been a different game.

“Full credit to our players for going 2-1 up, but without heaping it all on the player [Binnom-Williams], the sending off probably had a big bearing on the outcome of the game.”

Unfortunately midfielder Sam Wedgebury picked up an injury that forced him off in the first half of the game against Barrow. Allen provided Spire Media with an update on his condition.

“Our physio got him in for a scan. It’s not good news, he’s got a cruciate knee ligament injury. He’s going to be out probably for the rest of this season.

“We will do everything we can as a football club to make sure we look after him. That means the best treatment and best rehab.”

So far this season, the National League fixtures have been on every Tuesday and Saturday. As well as ensuring the players are all in top physical condition to play this frequently, it is also vital that the coaching staff can implement changes that they want from the last game.

“This morning we just had a little chat and watched the video about what could’ve been done differently.

“Some of the players needed to be rested, meaning not doing anything at all. Others needed to do a bit more.”

Martin Allen was also able to provide an update on assistant manager Adrian Whitbread. Allen stated that Adrian had been for lunch with the players for the first time and is well on the road to recovery.

As for Saturday’s big match with Salford City, the Spireites look to make it 4 wins from 5 and get back on track. Salford have endured an inconsistent start to life in the National League, with just 4 points from a possible 12. Manager Graham Alexander picked up somewhat of a transfer coup with the signing of 30 year old striker Adam Rooney, with the former Spireite loanee scoring 3 goals in 4 games so far.

Martin Allen expects another tough game.

“They’ll be competitive. They’ll be good. They’ve had four promotions in five seasons. Any club that does that is being run the right way.

“They’ll be well organised, they’ve got decent strikers. It’s a game I’m really looking forward to.”

Salford City, owned in part by former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville, will be hoping that their season has been kick-started by their win over Halifax on Tuesday. The pre season title favourites have invested heavily this summer, with striker Adam Rooney becoming the highest paid player in non league history when he joined the Lancashire club. The Spireites will yet again be supported well, as the entirety of the ticket allocation has been sold out.