Chesterfield’s Jak McCourt suffered a suspended ‘leg break’ and Curtis Weston was in an off-the-ball headbutt incident on Saturday afternoon.
It was another day to forget for the Spireites as they suffered a further blow and went down to 9-men at one point in their 3-2 loss at home to Solihull Moors in the National League game.
Ten-man Chesterfield threw away a two-goal lead against Solihull to lose further ground on league leaders Stockport.
The hosts were in control at 2-0 up, but Curtis Weston’s dismissal in the 22nd minute proved the turning point.
Defeat saw the second-placed Spireites fall six points behind Stockport, while play-off hopefuls Solihull remain sixth.
Alex Whittle opened the scoring for the hosts after 14 minutes, putting the ball beyond Ryan Boot, only for Akwasi Asante to double the lead with a shot from outside of the area minutes later.
Chesterfield were reduced to 10 men two minutes later when Weston was shown a straight red card for violent conduct, as can be seen in the video below…
Can’t see everything from this angle but doesn’t look good for Westy. Worth noting the kick out from Osborne tho. Petulant. #Spireites pic.twitter.com/GAf172bvX3
— Alex Ambler (@SpireiteAlex) February 20, 2022
Solihull pulled a goal back in the 37th minute with thanks to James Clarke’s header at the back post.
The visitors got an equaliser in the 51st minute when Scott Loach couldn’t keep out Callum Maycock’s effort, before Harry Boyes then lashed home the winner four minutes late.
The result was the first Spireites home defeat since April 2021 and it was made worse when Jak McCourt picked up a suspected leg break.
He went down in the 86th minute following a bad tackle, then stretchered off with fans applauding him off the pitch.
This is worse than King and Mnoga’s tackles. Get well soon Jak 😢 #Spireites pic.twitter.com/yE781PB4aE
— Alex Ambler (@SpireiteAlex) February 20, 2022
Chesterfield’s injuries…
George Carline (season ending knee injury)
Kabongo Tshimanga (broken leg/dislocated ankle)
Gaving Gunning (fractured nose & eye socket)
Jak McCourt (another suspected leg break)
All caused by opposition players. Not one free-kick was awarded to Chesterfield states journalist Ben Ramsdale.
Chesterfield fans vented their anger at the referee throughout the game and he was booed off the pitch after the full time whistle.
The Derbyshire Times received confirmation at 5:30pm that there would be no post-match interviews from the Spireites camp, choosing not to speak to the media believed to have made to avoid any potential fines or punishment for speaking out against the official.
Solihull boss Neil Ardley said: “It was a disappointing first 20 minutes. I thought we started well for ten minutes, we looked lively and our game plan was working.
“The two times they get into our box we conceded both times and that was disappointing because up until then I had not seen the threat that they carried.
“Obviously the sending off changes the game, we know that. I have looked at it back, it does look like the head (from Weston) goes in. It is from the stand so it is not easy to see but it looked like it and Mark (Ellis) said he definitely got caught on the chin.”
He added: “It is not easy to play against ten-men especially when they are a good team with good players but once we calmed down we started to move the ball well and created chance after chance. When they don’t go in you wonder if it is going to be your day or not we stuck at it and it was thoroughly deserved in the end.
“Credit to them (Chesterfield), they are a good team and they are going to win games.”
Twitter users reacted to Chesterfield’s Jak McCourt ‘leg break’ and Curtis Weston in the headbutt incident…
@Mattkins98: You always know what Solihull are going to bring – petulant little niggles, crunching tackles, general shithousery. You just have to not rise to it and act professionally at 2-0 up and we win the game
@lukeCFC25: Utter stupidity from Weston. Stupid to do it in the first place, even more so to do it two yards in front of the referee! #Spireites
@TinsleyP: Cheating is at the heart of Ardleys tactics, getting in the refs ear early, winding folk up etc. Non-football. That aside Weston was stupid, lost us a game we would have won at a canter.
@dpearsoncfc: The referee could not have got a better view. Unbelievable
@SpireiteNews: Disgraceful tackle, right in front of the ref as well! Something needs to be done about the standard of refereeing @TheVanaramaNL #Spireites
@laurammu68: @ChesterfieldFC keeping my fingers crossed for @jakmc4 that it isn’t too serious and he is back doing what he does best very soon! How the referee does not even give a free kick out way is absolutely beyond me #spireites
@RedDogCam: Are Chesterfield the unluckiest club in English football right now? So many injuries, late goals conceded. Man, it’s all against you right now. Hoping you guys overcome the adversity!
@coolhandlukecfc: @TheVanaramaNL it’s about time you sorted out the refs in this league! Two games two players stretchered off! No foul given wtf is going on!?! #spireites
@MichaelWilcox82: Last 2 weeks. Produced a wallpaper of Jak & Kabongo. Think it’s best to stop doing them as they’re jinxing us
@KerrymMoody: Horrendous to watch yet another boy in blue leave the pitch on a stretcher. Hope you are okay @jakmc4; wishing you all the best! 🔵⚪️🔵
@henryst65360172: Absolute joke of a ref, red card tackle everyday of the week, indirect free kick should’ve been taken on the by line foul on Asante on edge of the box given against him it’s bout time we put in a complaint against the shambles!
@BlakeeBedfordd: On a serious note. Curtis Weston owes the fans and his team mate an apology. Fucking idiot cost us three points when we were coasting.
@Kane_1866: Curtis Weston hang your head in shame lad
@LukeMorley94: Curtis Weston cost us that game. Simple as
My thoughts on the game @ChesterfieldFC you all played well and shouldn’t hang you head in shame, 3-2 to the referee 🤬😤 #Spireites pic.twitter.com/5yqGJYbQ9U
— Lucie (@lightlucie) February 19, 2022
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