PREVIEW: Chesterfield v Coventry City - The Sky Blues look to bounce back at the Proact

Mark Robins' side look to bounce back after defeat to Shrewsbury last time out...

1 September 2017

Venue: The Proact Stadium

Competition: SkyBet League Two

Date: Saturday, September 2nd, 2017.

Kick-Off: 3pm

The Sky Blues make the short trip north to face SkyBet League Two’s bottom club Chesterfield at the Proact Stadium as both sides look to turn around their current league form.

The Spireites have only picked up three points so far, beating Port Vale convincingly at home a fortnight ago. Since then they have fallen to successive defeats against Grimsby and Notts County leaving them 24^th in the standings.

In charge at the Proact is former Coventry City defender Gary Caldwell, who featured 36 times for the Sky Blues on loan from Newcastle in the Championship. In his first 25 games as Chesterfield manager Caldwell has won just three as the side were relegated from SkyBet League One alongside Coventry.

Opponents

Bristol City youngster Diego De Girolamo will be a fresh face for Chesterfield fans and is likely to make his first appearance against the Sky Blues. The Italy U20 international scored a hat-trick against Leicester City in the EFL Trophy in January while at Cheltenham and Caldwell will be hoping that the 21-year-old is the answer to his attacking problems.

Jordan Sinnott has impressed since joining from FC Halifax Town in the summer. Sinnot was vital in the Shaymen’s promotion from the National League North last season attracting attention from across the EFL.

As expected in a Caldwell side their defence is brimmed with experience. Sam Hird, Ian Evatt and Scott Wiseman have made over 1300 football league appearances between them with Coventry City supporter Evatt making up almost half that tally himself.

Memorable Meetings

A stoppage time James Maddison free-kick secured the Sky Blues a point at the Proact in 2015 after Lee Novak’s first half opener.

The teenager curled the set piece over the wall and into the corner from 25-yards to snatch all three points away from the Spirites in a memorable trip to the Proact.

Earlier that same season it was another teenager, Adam Armstrong, who stole the show at the Ricoh Arena in a 1-0 victory. Jacob Murphy drove forward and found Arma on the turn in the area before he fired low across the keeper to give the Sky Blues the victory.

Last Five

Chesterfield 1-0 Coventry City – 14^th January 2017 – SkyBet League One.

Coventry City 2-0 Chesterfield – 1^st Novermber 2016 – SkyBet League One.

Chesterfield 1-1 Coventry City – 28^th December 2015 – SkyBet League One.

Coventry City 1-0 Chesterfield – 19^th September 2015 – SkyBet League One.

Chesterfield 2-3 Coventry City – 14^th March 2015 – SkyBet League One.

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Chesterfield 0-0 Coventry City - Goalless draw as the points are shared at the Proact

The Sky Blues have to settle for a point against the Spireites...

2 September 2017

The Sky Blues were forced to settle for a point at the Proact after a goalless draw against Chesterfield...

In what was a relatively quiet start to the contest at the Proact, Marc McNulty provided the first sight at goal for the Sky Blues. The strikers instinctive effort from the edge of the box was acrobatically tipped wide by Tommy Lee in the Spireites goal.

City continued to have the better of the first-half chances as Peter Vincenti went close. Jodi Jones recieved the ball on the right before breezing past Zak Jules. His floated cross found Vincenti at the back post, but he couldn't control a headed effort as it flew over.

The hosts best chance of the opening 45 minutes came courtesy of a set-piece. A Jack Grimmer foul presented Jordan Flores with an opportunity from 30-yards, and only a superb fingertip save from Lee Burge denied Chesterfield the lead.

Moments before half-time good fortune favoured Chesterfield, with a Grimmer tackle falling the way of Kristian Dennis, who would have been in an offside position had a teammate found him. He took one touch before firing straight at Burge, with the 'keeper tipping it over the bar.

After multiple attempts from distance in the first half, McNulty was close to opening the scoring at the start of the second half. Picking up on a loose ball just outside the area, he curled an effort towards goal, but Lee produced a wonderful one-handed save to tip it onto the crossbar.

With an hour on the clock, the home side were reduced to ten men. Robbie Weir, already on a yellow card, brought down Jones just outside the penalty area and was given his second caution of the game to make the Spireites' afternoon a little harder.

Making the most of their numerical advantage, the Sky Blues should have taken the lead with twenty minutes left in the contest. Marc McNulty escaped both centre-halves but through on goal could only slide the ball wide of the far post to the home sides relief.

City thought they had broke the deadlock soon after, but were denied by the linesman. A Peter Vincenti header beat Lee in the Spireites goal, but with the flag raised celebrations were soon cut short in the Sky Blue end.

Chances seemed to be coming regularly for City, but the finishing touch remained absent. Substitute Tony Andreu's drilled cross along the six-yard box was just behind McNulty, who could only divert a header wide.

Despite six minutes of injury time and City pressure, the home side held on as the points were shared at the Proact.

Attendance: 5,164 (1,443)

Yellow: Grimmer, Weir, Flores, Jules.

Red: Weir.

Teams:

Chesterfield XI: Lee (GK), Wiseman, O'Grady (Ugwu 72'), Jules, Evatt (C), Weir, Hird, Dennis (De Girolamo 78'), Flores, Briggs (Kellett 66'), Reed.

Chesterfield Subs: Anyon (GK), Maguire, McCourt, Sinnott.

Coventry City XI: Burge (GK), Grimmer, Willis, Davies, Stokes, Kelly, Doyle (C), Jones, Beavon (Andreu 66'), Vincenti (Nazon 77'), McNulty.

Coventry City Subs: O'Brien, Hyam, Maycock, Shipley, Biamou.

Match Reports

Standings