Chesterfield 0-0 Sheffield United: Blades Held to Goalless Draw in Second Pre-season Outing | OneFootball

Sheffield United and Chesterfield played out to a 0-0 draw in North Derbyshire on Saturday afternoon as the Blades continue to step up their efforts in pre-season.

Chris Wilder handed a debut for United’s recent summer signing Romelle Donovan while Jamal Baptiste got another run out for the Blades.

Lineups

Chesterfield: Hemming, Eccleston, Pong, Simpson, Gordon, Naylor, McEachran, Markanday, Trialist, Koroma, Bonis.

Subs: Mandeville, Stirk, Butterfield, Sotiriou, Dunkley, Cook, Elliott, Whitney, Sissons, Wozniczka.

Blades: Cooper (Davies 45), Arblaster (Peck 60), Tanganga (McGuinness 70), Rothwell (Riedewald 60), Hamer (McGlinchey 60), Cannon (Marsh 60), Donovan (O’Hare 45), Burrows (McCallum 60), Baptiste, Seriki (Sachdev 80), Bamford (Campbell 60).

Unused: Shackleton, Zatterstrom, Betts, Sasnauskas, Blacker.

First Half

The opening stages offered little in the way of clear-cut chances, with both sides taking time to settle into the contest. Once United began to find their rhythm, they carved out the first meaningful opening through Patrick Bamford. Excellent interplay between Romelle Donovan and Femi Seriki created the opportunity, but Bamford was unable to convert. Moments later, Harrison Burrows tested goalkeeper Boot with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Chesterfield responded midway through the first half when Gordon burst down the left wing before being halted by a late challenge from Seriki, who entered the referee’s notebook. McEachran’s resulting delivery was well dealt with by the United defence.

The hosts came within inches of taking the lead shortly before the interval. Eccleston nodded a long ball back into the danger area, finding Dilan Markanday, whose first-time volley crashed against the crossbar before bouncing clear.

United were then grateful to avoid falling behind again moments later. Lee Bonis broke through on goal before squaring for Josh Koroma, whose curling effort took a deflection and spun behind for a corner.

Second Half

Chris Wilder made two alterations at half-time, introducing Adam Davies and Callum O’Hare in place of Michael Cooper and Donovan, before making a further six changes on the hour mark, with Sydie Peck among those entering the action as the manager continued to spread valuable pre-season minutes across his squad.

Before the wholesale changes, Gustavo Hamer’s dangerous corner caused uncertainty inside the Chesterfield penalty area, while Tom Cannon also managed to work himself into a shooting position without finding the breakthrough. One of the substitutes nearly made an immediate impact. Tyrese Campbell showed impressive strength to shrug off two defenders before driving into the box, but his left-footed effort drifted agonisingly wide of the far post.

Chesterfield continued to threaten on the counter and almost capitalised when Elliott picked out Sotiriou in space on the edge of the area. The forward steadied himself before firing narrowly wide with a low effort.

The home side’s best opportunity of the second period arrived four minutes from time. Luke Butterfield collected the ball outside the box and unleashed a powerful strike that took a deflection before flashing just past the post.

United had one final chance to snatch victory in the closing moments. A superb pass from McGlinchey released an unmarked Marsh, whose excellent first touch set up the opportunity, but his poked finish rolled inches beyond the far upright.