It's Chesterfield Away For The Blues

JPT

At least we avoided Leeds United is about the best you can say about a draw that sees the Blues on the road once more, Carlisle, more than likely on Tuesday the 9th of November, taking a trip to a Chesterfield side who sit tenth in League Two as I type this morning with 17 points. The Spireites though having claimed 16 of those at home on the back of five wins, one draw and no defeats at Saltergate.

To get to the northern quarter-final stage Chesterfield first hammered Burton 5-1 on the road, that their only away win of the season - Wade Small 2, Drew Talbot 2 and Jamie Lowry scoring for Town while John McGrath netted for Burton. Things got more interesting in the last round for the Spireites though as they defeated Huddersfield Town 4-2 on penalties at Saltergate after the game had finished 3-3 on 90 minutes.

That only tells half the tale as the scoreline was actually 2-1 to Chesterfield with 88 minutes on the clock after Drew Talbot had scored twice for the home side and Anthony Pilkington had registered for the visitors. Jamie Bowery then made it 3-1 to the Spireites sixty seconds later before Huddersfield netted twice in the six minutes of injury time through Pilkington and Nathan Clarke to take the tie to penalties. Donal McDermott then hammering home the winning spot-kick for Chesterfield in the shootout.

Carlisle have played the Spireites twice in the Football League Trophy but both those games have been at Brunton Park. As for United's record in other competitions at Saltergate, well it is pretty poor, the Blues having won only five of their 34 games there over the years, four ending in draws while the bumper remaining 25 have finished in Chesterfield victories.

Elsewhere in the draw Leeds United have had the most favourable one, the Whites so far getting a bye, then Darlington at home and now Grimsby at home, Bury meanwhile having their travel arrangements finalised when Accrington face Shrewsbury in a delayed second round game a week on Tuesday. The standout game in the southern section is obviously Southampton v Charlton while MK Dons at home to Northampton is a slight local derby, the draw in full being as follows :



North

Leeds United v Grimsby Town

Accrington Stanley or Shrewsbury Town v Bury

Bradford City v Port Vale

Chesterfield v Carlisle United


South

MK Dons v Northampton Town

Leyton Orient v Hereford United

Swindon Town v Norwich City

Southampton v Charlton Athletic


Ties to be played in the week commencing Monday 9th November