Match report: Chesterfield 0-0 Portsmouth

On Monday 3rd March 2014, I was invited down to the Proact Stadium press box to report on Chesterfield vs Portsmouth in SkyBet League Two.

I was invited down to the ground following my one week work experience at the club and also got the chance to write up a match report at the game. I got to shadow Nick in the press box, and this was the second time that I have got to sit in the media area at a Football League game.

I arrived at the stadium for around 17:30 so that I had chance to prepare my research for the game and set out the basis of my report. This took around an hour and a half and I was sat in place in the press box by 19:40.

Chesterfield missed the opportunity to go four points clear at the top of the League 2 table following a 0-0 draw with Portsmouth in front of the Sky cameras at the Proact Stadium.

In a hard fought match, both sides struggled to take a controlling hand as the game threw up few chances of note.

Ahead of the game, Spireites boss Paul Cook rewarded the side that comfortably beat Cheltenham Town 4-1 on Tuesday night by sticking with the same starting-XI to face Portsmouth.

Drew Talbot did not feature in the Spireites’ team though, as an abductor injury again kept him out of the match day squad.

After a scrappy opening five minutes, where neither side took a hold of the game, the first real chance fell to the visitors.

The opportunity came when a dangerous ball was played in from the left, which Pompey forward Ricky Holmes subsequently flicked towards the Chesterfield goal. The effort seemingly caught Tommy Lee off guard, but the Spireites’ ‘keeper kept hold of the ball to ensure the scores stayed level.

Moments later, the visitors again came close to taking the lead. This time, Pompey forward Jake Jervis broke free of the Chesterfield defence before pushing his way into the 18-yard-box. The striker then fired a powerful shot towards Lee’s goal, but the effort bounced back off the upright and the danger was soon cleared, much to the relief of the Spireites faithful.

In the 16th minute, Chesterfield won a free-kick in a dangerous position after Ollie Banks was forced to ground by Pompey midfielder Toumani Diagouraga. Gary Roberts’ curling free-kick was just too high for Liam Cooper though, and the defender’s glancing effort sailed harmlessly away from danger.

Minutes later, the visitors won a free-kick of their own after Ricky Holmes drew a foul from Spireites midfielder Tendayi Darikwa. The set piece was then cleverly played to Nicky Shorey by Holmes, but the Portsmouth defender’s effort was blocked and the danger was soon cleared by the Chesterfield defence.

As the clock ticked on, Chesterfield grew further into the game and a number of chances soon fell for a collection of Spireites players.

The first opportunity fell to Banks in the 25th minute when the ball landed fortunately for the ex-Rotherham midfielder at some distance from the target. The 21-year-old then fired a long range effort towards the Portsmouth goal, but Pompey ‘keeper Carson was equal to the effort.

Chances then followed for both Banks and Jimmy Ryan, before Roberts tried his luck with an audacious chip from just outside the area. Carson was equal to the chances though and the Pompey defence held strong.

In the 38th minute, Chesterfield again won a free-kick in a dangerous position when Ben Chorley accidentally handled the ball. Roberts and Dan Gardner both stood over the set piece, before Gardner fired a powerful, low effort just past the Portsmouth upright.

The Spireites then had one last chance to score before half-time, but Doyle’s curling corner was collected well by Pompey ‘keeper Carson and the sides went into the break all square.

Half-time: Chesterfield 0-0 Portsmouth

Chesterfield began the second-half much as they had ended the first, and came close to opening the scoring through a Roberts’ effort in the 47th minute. The 29-year-old midfielder’s left-footed shot fired just wide of the post though, and the scores remained level.

The first Portsmouth chance of the second-half came in the 59th minute, as Jervis again broke down the right wing before dragging a low, right-footed effort just wide of Lee’s goal.

Wes Fogden then came close to opening the scoring just minutes later when he fantastically controlled a lofted through-ball, before toe-poking a close-range shot towards goal. Lee was equal to the effort though and he brilliantly saved to keep Chesterfield level.

The first yellow card of the game went the Spireites’ way in the 70th minute, when Sam Morsy caught Roman Padovani late, leaving the referee with no choice but to book the Chesterfield midfielder.

Spireites boss Paul Cook then made two changes to his side, bringing on both Marc Richards and Jay O’Shea for Banks and Gardner.

However, it was Portsmouth who looked the most likely to score after the substitutions, and in the 77th minute, Jervis again came close to scoring after some excellent build up play from Fogden and Jed Wallace. The forward’s effort was a tame one though, and it rolled comfortably past the far post.

As the final whistle approached, Chesterfield went in search of the elusive winning goal, and with just minutes remaining a corner was won after Joe Devera deflected the ball behind. The corner was easily cleared by the Portsmouth back line, but the Spireites continued to push forward.

The final chance of the game fell to Richards midway through added time. The striker connected well with a Roberts’ cross from the right hand side of the pitch, but the header was straight at the ‘keeper and Carson held on well to earn Pompey a share of the spoils.

Full-time: Chesterfield 0-0 Portsmouth

Chesterfield: Lee, Darikwa, Evatt, Cooper, Humphreys, Morsy, Ryan, Gardner (O’Shea 75), Banks (Richards 71), Roberts, Doyle (Gnanduillet 81)

Unused: Dunbavin, Smith, Hird, Togwell

Portsmouth: Carson, N'Gala, Padovani, Holmes, Shorey, Fogden, Chorley, Diagouraga, Jervis (Agyemang 90), Wallace, Devera

Unused: Smith, Ertl, Painter, Bradley, Harris, Racon

Attendance: 5807 (547)