Mind the gaps

AS a fast and furious spectacle came to a rousing close at Chesterfield, Athletic manager Paul Dickov didn’t entirely enjoy what he was seeing.

Though his team looked dangerous and likely to bag a winner as they piled forward, some alarming holes were left defensively at the B2net Stadium.

And Athletic could have paid a big price for their unabashed ambition, with Spireites substitute Scott Boden only finding a grateful Alex Cisak with his misdirected injury-time header when well-placed.

“It was a tough game,” said Dickov, whose men levelled a Jordan Bowery opener to claim a point through Matt Smith.

“We conceded a sloppy goal, though one where the boys tell me

Tom Adeyemi was fouled in the build-up.

“We showed character to come back and got an equaliser before half-time. The big man (Smith) took it well. It took him 15 or 20 minutes to get his second wind, but he is a threat — especially when he gets himself in the (penalty) box, as he showed again.

“It was a bit too end-to-end in the final few minutes for my liking, but on the basis of chances and the run of play it appeared we were going to win the game.”

Chris Taylor extended Chesterfield’s goalkeeper Tommy Lee with a rasping first-half drive and showed a desire to drive Athletic that was reflected in praise from his manager.

“Chris was excellent, especially in the first half when we got the ball to him,” he added. “He looked a real threat.

“He was coming off the line to cause all sorts of problems, and Filipe Morais as well set up the goal with another assist.

“I just felt we needed to pass it more in the first half and open them up that way, rather than pass too many balls through the eye of a needle.”