Chesterfield 1-2 Accrington Six Things: end-to-end

Wilks has made a big impact at Accy – tagram.org

After a pulsating afternoon, Accrington Stanley beat 10-man Chesterfield 2-1 thanks to goals from Billy Kee and Mallik Wilks. Here’s six key talking points from an enthralling game.

Stanley’s strong start

The visitors started at a high intensity in the first 10 minutes, playing out from the back and often attacking down the right. Wing-back Andy Kellett struggled to handle the threat provided by Janoi Donacien and Jordan Clark, often needing to be bailed out by wide centre-back Zak Jules. Donacien crossed for the back-post for Sean McConville, who was denied by Joe Anyon from close-range.

Chesterfield improved

After the opening exchanges, the home side got more right in the middle third, even if they didn’t create clear cut chances. They started to get their wing-backs, especially Bradley Barry, further up the pitch with Louis Reed creating space for him with his runs into wide areas. Barry crossed for Jordan Flores to head wide, before the former Wigan man saw his shot blocked after a winding run from Diego De Girolamo. The Italian himself saw his shot saved on 33 minutes and Krystian Dennis, a willing runner throughout, was denied a chance to shoot one-on-one by a fine intervention from Farrend Rawson. Even during those tougher spells though, Stanley showed a capacity to create chances at any moment, Billy Kee seeing his header hit the bar.

Stanley invited pressure

Rawson and centre-back partner Mark Hughes were called upon even more often at the start of the second half. Kellett got forward to swing a number of inviting crosses into the six-yard box, which either required last-ditch clearances or fizzed across the face of goal, Dennis denied from point-blank range by Chapman. There were opportunities for Stanley to break but their distribution from the back was too slow and therefore they found themselves penned into their defensive third. Barry crossed to the back post and home fans appealed for a handball in the box by Donacien, before Robbie Weir had an effort from range on 61 minutes.

Red card changed the game

One minute later, the game swung in Accrington’s favour when Barry, the home side’s most impressive performer, was sent off for a high lunge. Playing ten men fed into the ball-playing qualities of John Coleman’s men, who took the lead midway through the second half. McConville picked out Kee, who needed just one touch to control the ball and another to finish emphatically.

Subs made an impact

The Spireites did not lie down and they improved once midfielder Jordan Sinnott and particularly target man Chris O’Grady entered the fray, occupying both centre-backs more ably than Dennis had on his own. The latter won a penalty after being brought down by Seamus Conneely, tucking the spot kick down the middle as the game assumed an end-to-end feel. It was an Accrington substitute striker, Wilks, who scored the winner though, turning on the edge of the box to curl in an excellent 85th minute strike.

In summary

Wilks’ goal ultimately cost Gary Caldwell his job that evening with Chesterfield dropping into the bottom two on goal difference. This wasn’t a bad performance from his side, who showed plenty of belief even with a man disadvantage, but lacked certain qualities in the final third. Accrington didn’t dominate their hosts, only scoring their goals after the red card, but when they got into good areas the ability of their wide men proved the decisive factor.