League 2: Torquay United vs Chesterfield
Posted: 27 Apr 2011, 21:17
Plainmoor
Friday 29th April 2011
KO: 7:45pm
Well, this is it. The final 8 days of the regular league season. Two games remain. I keep saying it, but this is now the biggest game of the season. Win or bust, in my eyes. This is the game that the rest have come down to. Both sides will obviously want the 3 points, for different reasons. We can move back into the playoffs, while Chesterfield need the points to re-establish the lead they've nearly thrown away, to Bury, in the race for the title. They could have won the trophy on Monday, but Bury won 3-2 at the b2net to close the gap to just 2 points. Nerves are sure to be jangling in their camp, and no doubt in ours too. However, nerves will need to be put aside on Friday night, and we'll need to produce a performance on a par with Wycombe in order to win this one, I think. Our two games without scoring were then ended with the 3 at Burton, just a shame the defence seemed to go AWOL. As we all know, Chesterfield have sold out, hopefully we will do too, for what should be a cracker of a match.
GULLS NEWS.
It's the same as Monday, I believe. I've heard no injury concerns really, so hopefully it'll stay that way.
CONSEQUENCES.
We can move back up to 5th with victory, albeit just for the night. That'll add the pressure onto the others though, knowing they need to win to leapfrog us again. Chesterfield need the points to move 5 clear of Bury with 2 games to play. If we win, then Bury could go a point ahead before the final round of fixtures, which could actually help us, as Chesterfield host Gillingham while Bury travel to Stevenage.
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
Torquay - DWWDDD
Chesterfield - DWLWDL
We're in slightly better form than our opponents, going into this one. Chesterfield have won 2, lost 2, drawn 2 of their last 6, whereas we are still unbeaten, 9 now I think. We desperately need 3 points to end our drawing streak though, as I don't feel a point will be enough. Chesterfield have done averagely on their travels, drawing at Barnet and Oxford, and losing at Hereford, 3-0.
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the side which lost 2-3 at home to Bury on Easter Monday:
Lee
Griffiths
Holden
Allott
Mattis
Whitaker
Morgan
Smalley
Talbot
Lester
Davies
Subs: Bowery, Ford, Breckin, Niven, Morris, Djilali, Boden.
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
I'm struggling to work out what formation they used against Bury. I can only make out that there are 3 defenders in that starting 11 (Griffiths, Mattis and Holden), while there are 5 strikers. I'll be interested to see the formation they use against us, but looking at that squad, there are plenty of excellent players for this level. Jack Lester has been around for years, and is still banging them in. Craig Davies has scored 20+ goals this season, he's been a revelation since joining the Spireites. Danny Whitaker has also impressed, and he will cause some problems from the middle of the park, I'm sure.
PREDICTION.
Hopeful of a win, but can't see it. 1-1.
Friday 29th April 2011
KO: 7:45pm
Well, this is it. The final 8 days of the regular league season. Two games remain. I keep saying it, but this is now the biggest game of the season. Win or bust, in my eyes. This is the game that the rest have come down to. Both sides will obviously want the 3 points, for different reasons. We can move back into the playoffs, while Chesterfield need the points to re-establish the lead they've nearly thrown away, to Bury, in the race for the title. They could have won the trophy on Monday, but Bury won 3-2 at the b2net to close the gap to just 2 points. Nerves are sure to be jangling in their camp, and no doubt in ours too. However, nerves will need to be put aside on Friday night, and we'll need to produce a performance on a par with Wycombe in order to win this one, I think. Our two games without scoring were then ended with the 3 at Burton, just a shame the defence seemed to go AWOL. As we all know, Chesterfield have sold out, hopefully we will do too, for what should be a cracker of a match.
GULLS NEWS.
It's the same as Monday, I believe. I've heard no injury concerns really, so hopefully it'll stay that way.
CONSEQUENCES.
We can move back up to 5th with victory, albeit just for the night. That'll add the pressure onto the others though, knowing they need to win to leapfrog us again. Chesterfield need the points to move 5 clear of Bury with 2 games to play. If we win, then Bury could go a point ahead before the final round of fixtures, which could actually help us, as Chesterfield host Gillingham while Bury travel to Stevenage.
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
Torquay - DWWDDD
Chesterfield - DWLWDL
We're in slightly better form than our opponents, going into this one. Chesterfield have won 2, lost 2, drawn 2 of their last 6, whereas we are still unbeaten, 9 now I think. We desperately need 3 points to end our drawing streak though, as I don't feel a point will be enough. Chesterfield have done averagely on their travels, drawing at Barnet and Oxford, and losing at Hereford, 3-0.
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the side which lost 2-3 at home to Bury on Easter Monday:
Lee
Griffiths
Holden
Allott
Mattis
Whitaker
Morgan
Smalley
Talbot
Lester
Davies
Subs: Bowery, Ford, Breckin, Niven, Morris, Djilali, Boden.
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
I'm struggling to work out what formation they used against Bury. I can only make out that there are 3 defenders in that starting 11 (Griffiths, Mattis and Holden), while there are 5 strikers. I'll be interested to see the formation they use against us, but looking at that squad, there are plenty of excellent players for this level. Jack Lester has been around for years, and is still banging them in. Craig Davies has scored 20+ goals this season, he's been a revelation since joining the Spireites. Danny Whitaker has also impressed, and he will cause some problems from the middle of the park, I'm sure.
PREDICTION.
Hopeful of a win, but can't see it. 1-1.
- like last season. Eyes down for a full house! COYY 
