Chesterfield's experiment with Friday night football makes its last scheduled stop at Saltergate on February 20th, when AFC Bournemouth visit. Has it worked? The 2-2 draw with Shrewsbury attracted 4099 to the Rec; the 3660 Spireites on duty that night remains the highest number of home fans to attend a league match this season.Conversely, the 2451 attendance against Macclesfield a month later probably included the lowest home turnout so far this season. The three Friday homes this season have produced two draws and a defeat, indicating fairly conclusively that there is no advantage to be gained on the playing side by switching to Friday games. It was worth a try, but I fancy we won't see many more Friday games here in future.
Bournemouth have done very well to overcome the points deduction they suffered at the start of the season and stand within catching distance of Barnet; a favourable result on Friday could put The Cherries in a position to overhaul the Bees if they win at Underhill next Tuesday. Manager Eddie Howe promises that Bournemouth will come to play a high-tempo game and go for the win. Lee Bradbury, Scott Guyett and Joel Ward will miss the game but Tim Stephenson may be available despite having his nose broken in a reserve match. When we said cheerio to Fletch at the end of last season, we did it on the understanding that we wouldn'tsee the old boy playing here again, but he has rejoined the Cherries from Crawley Town and is proving to be an effective figurehead in their battle to stay up. To date (and with the qualification that this is according to Soccerbase,) Steve has made 495 league starts and added another 75 substitute appearances, scoring 97 league goals. We hope that Steve gets to the ton with a hat-trick at Barnet!
Lee Richardson has the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from. His players, like the front wheels of my car, are unencumbered by any form of suspension. Having listened to Lee's latest interview on Spireites World, it is possible to speculate that Rob Page and Paul Harsley (as two experienced players who are currently outside the first-team squad) are unlikely to play much of a part in the manager's future plans, and it is a great shame that the signings of these two experienced players have not produced the hoped-for results. Team-wise I'd expect Jack Lester to come straight back in after suspension, but Danny Hall may be kept out by last week's debutant, Clayton McDonald.
Remember that you can follow the game in full on Spireites World if you're unable to get on the night.
