City and Spireites set for stalemate
Chesterfield v Bradford
A 1-0 defeat away at Accrington last weekend ended Chesterfield’s hopes of reaching the play-offs, in a game which also saw captain and top scorer Jack Lester receive his marching orders.
Manager Lee Richardson reflected after the game that the side had not been good enough in recent weeks to secure a top six spot, giving themselves too much to do by not winning games.
The Spireites have failed to pick up a win in their previous seven matches, a run which has included five draws, making it five points collected from a possible 21.
Midfielder Lee Montrose, who has signed a pre-contract agreement to join at the end of the season from Wigan, should make the squad after returning to training following a knee injury.
With nothing left to play for, Richardson will call for his players to end the season on a high and prevent their opponents from completing the double over them following a 3-2 defeat back in November.
Despite a 3-0 win in the derby against Rotherham last weekend, Stuart McCall will decide his future as manager of Bradford on Thursday following their failure to make the play-offs.
The result saw the Bantams pick up their first win in 10 games, thanks to a brace from Peter Thorne and a Steve Jones strike, but that did not prevent McCall from having a meeting with the Board on Tuesday regarding his position.
With a number of the first team squad members out of contract at the end of the campaign, and the Chairman admitting the player budget would be cut considerably next season, these are uncertain times for the Yorkshire side.
McCall’s men have failed to win on the road since the beginning of February, and their failures have been highlighted in recent weeks with defeats against Dagenham and Redbridge and Morecambe, two sides who have competed this season with considerably smaller budgets.
With the feint play-off hopes of both sides being dashed last weekend, the players will be looking forward to finishing the season and pushing on next year.
Verdict: Chesterfield 1–1 Bradford