Focus on Chesterfield

JOHN Duncan's trip to Rochdale might not have been a wasted one after all.

It appeared when the Chesterfield manager watched Burnley win their final pre-season game that a number of those involved might not be in action when the two sides meet at Saltergate tomorrow.

But a combination of injuries, an up-turn in form and the unavailability of potential transfer targets means that as many as 10 of Burnley's starting line-up could figure against Duncan's men.

Only Mark Ford will definitely be missing which means Carl Smith is set to continue in midfield when his run-out at Rochdale had initially been seen as a taster for the future.

There shouldn't, however, be too many surprises in the Chesterfield line-up either after a quiet summer for the Spireites.

Mansfield's Scott Eustace has been the only arrival and he isn't likely to start, with Gillingham-bound Darren Carr the sole departure.

Chesterfield are predictable but that doesn't make them easy to beat as they are renowned as no-nonsense opponents with a cutting edge up front in David Reeves and Steve Wilkinson - both proven goalscorers at this level.

Last season's 10th place was a disappointment after their league and FA Cup heroics of the year before although the sale of Kevin Davies doutbless had an effect.

But even still it was a little harsh of the bookies to push their title odds out from 33-1 to 50-1 on the back of an injury-time defeat at Colchester on the first day of the season.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.