SPIREITES OUTCLASSED BY BLADES

The Spireites hosted newly Premier League team Sheffield United, in which was their second home friendly after losing to League One side Rotherham United 2-1.

Both Chris Wilder and John Sheridan put out very strong sides with the Spireites starting newly signed Anthony Spyrou and the blades starting Phil Jagielka.

The Spireites lined up as followed:

Luke Coddington (13)

David Buchanan (3)

Will Evans (5)

Laurence Maguire (6)

Liam Mandeville (10)

Anthony Gerrard (16) (C)

Scott Boden (19)

Haydn Hollis (26)

Josef Yarney (4)

Robbie Weir (15)

Anthony Spyrou (9)

Subs

Shwan Jalal (1)

Joe Rowley (7)

Curtis Weston (8)

Jonathan Smith (23) 

Sam Wedgbury (20) 

Jack McKay (21) 

Charlie Wakefield (22) 

Jamie Sharman (27)

Jay Sheridan (33)

The Blades lined up as followed:

Marcus Dewhurst (1)

Enda Stevens (3) 

Chris Basham (6)

John Lundstram (7)

Luke Freeman (8)

Billy Sharp (10) (C)

Callum Robinson (11) 

Phil Jagielka (15) 

Kieran Freeman (18)

Kean Bryan (20)

Regan Slater (39) 

Subs:

Simon Moore (25)

George Baldock (2)

John Fleck (4)

Jack O’Connell (5)

John Egan (12)

Ollie Norwood (16)

David Mcgoldrick (17)

Richard Stearman (19) 

Harry Boyes (22)

Zak Brunt (44)

2 minutes in and Chris Wilder’s men had their first chance of the game, Callum Robinson turned Robbie Weir, and then hit a low shot from the edge of the box,  which just went wide of the post. 

5 minutes in and the Premier League sure was piling on the pressure, Regan Slater’s smashed effort from the edge of the box just hammered past the post, luckily for the spireites.

12 minutes in and we may have seen the best tackle of the game, Callum Robinson went through on goal after getting past Anthony Gerrard, just as he was about to shoot, Will Evans was there to sniff out the danger and put the ball out for a corner.

35 minutes in after a lack lustre 20 minutes for both sides, the deadlock was broken, Luke Freeman crossed in from the left hand side and Sharp beat Coddington to the header, to head into the net, giving the Blades the lead.

38 minutes on the clock and the blades should’ve doubled their lead however, a tremendous reflex save, stopping Sharp from point-blank range at the back post from Spireites keeper Luke Coddington denied them.

On 40 minutes: John Lundstram tried a sizzling effort from the edge of the box for the Blades, however his shot went way wide of the post. 

On 44 minutes the first chance of the game for Sheridan’s men came after Mandeville whipped the ball in from a corner, the ball met Will Evans’ head back post, who forced the keeper to make a save at his near post.

Half time finished Chesterfield FC nil Sheffield United 1.

Chesterfield made four changes at the interval with Luke Coddington, Robbie Weir, Anthony Gerrard and Scott Boden all coming off. Replacing them was Curtis Weston, Jonathan Smith, Luke Coddington and Joe Rowley.

No changes for the Blades at half time.

Straight after the half time break, on 48 minutes Callum Robinson side footed the ball into the bottom corner, from Kieran Freeman’s cross, to double the visitors lead. 

52 minutes in and the Spireites should’ve been three down, Callum Robinson with a one on one with Jalal smashed a shot straight at Jalal to punch onto the crossbar, Robinson went for the rebound header but Evans headed clear.

Callum Robinson was continuing to cause massive problems for the Spireite defence, when on 55 minutes he cut inside on the edge of the box, and hit a curled shot to the left of Jalal, who only just got a fingertip to save the shot.

On 61 minutes the Spireites made two substitutions with Anthony Spyrou coming off for Charlie Wakefield and Jack McKay replacing Laurence Maguire.

63 minutes in and Billy Sharp got his second goal of the game with a beautiful chip over Shwan Jalal and Haydn Hollis in the Chesterfield net after he found himself through on goal.

64 minutes in and Callum Robinson (who had caused the Spireite defence all sorts of problems) was replaced by David McGoldrick.

The Blades made a couple more substitutions on 66 minutes when Kieran Freeman was replaced by George Baldock, and Ollie Norwood replacing Regan Slater. 

70 minutes on the clock, the Spireites made three substitutions, Sam Wedgbury replaced Will Evans, Jay Sheridan replaced David Buchanan and Jamie Sharman replaced Liam Mandeville.

75 minutes on the clock and Billy Sharp got his hat-rick with a bullet header into the top left corner getting on the end of Enda Steven’s cross, leaving Jalal starstruck.

Straight after the Blades made two substitutions with Richard Stearman replacing Phil Jagielka and John Fleck replacing Enda Stevens.

78 on the clock and Billy Sharp was replaced by Harry Boyes, after receiving a standing ovation from the Blades fans.

On 80 minutes the Spireites got their first real chance of the half, the ball fell to Jay Sheridan on the left hand side, he hit a wicked shot that almost creeped in the bottom right corner however, despite his efforts his shot went wide of the post.

The rest of the chances dried up until the 89th minute when Luke Freeman shot into the empty Spireite net after Shwan Jalal saved Mcgoldrick’s effort, making it 5-0 to the blades.

Full time score was Spireites 0 - 5 Blades.

Chris Wilder’s men shown the obvious difference in ability and outplayed John Sheridan’s men however, the Spireites never stopped attacking at Sheffield United however, the gulf in class was quite clearly obvious to everybody in attendance.