Chesterfield’s Gary Roberts calls Accrington draw a ‘game of chaos and madness’

Chesterfield coach Gary Roberts described his side’s 3-3 draw against Accrington as “a game of chaos and madness”.

Lowly Accrington recovered from surrendering a two-goal lead to secure a 3-3 draw, with Chesterfield missing a penalty in time added on.

After Accrington shocked the home side with two goals from Tyler Walton, Chesterfield hit back to lead with goals from Tom Naylor, Lee Bonis and James Berry before Charlie Caton levelled.

Bonis saw his penalty saved by Wright at the death following a foul on Kyle McFadzean.

Roberts said: “Absolute game of chaos and madness from minute one to minute 97.

“We knew the game was going to be a little bit basketball. They commit a lot of numbers forward and we just never got any control in the game.

“Credit to the lads, two-nil down after a horrendous start to the game for us. To pick themselves up, put ourselves in a position where we were ahead, got our nose in front, but I think the staff would all agree, we never felt comfortable in the game.

“Accrington don’t come here and lie down. They don’t go anywhere and lie down. And these are big games for Accrington. We knew what to expect.

“And we just never started the game. Absolutely started on the back foot, couldn’t win a first contact, couldn’t win a second contact and balls will come in your box left, front and centre.

“Yeah, really disappointed with the performance.”

Accrington boss John Doolan praised the character of his side and felt they deserved to take a point.

He said: “It was important we got something out of the game, because we deserved something out of the game. The first-half performance was outstanding, you go 2-0 up, two good goals from Tyler, and you think to yourself ‘we just weathered the storm’.

“They’ve got a goal back just before half-time and the character they showed to come back from it adds everything to the game.

“I’m just so proud of them all, honestly and they deserve that.
We said they were going to come at us, we knew they might change one or two personnel and I thought we dealt with it okay.

“It’s just a mistake, their second goal is a mistake, so we lose the ball high up the pitch. The lads have committed themselves, if you like, left-hand side, just in our half and then we’re on in the recovery and their striker has finished it lovely.

“Then you want a reaction because the stadium just lifted off, the fans got behind their team and we stood strong.

“The chances we’ve created as well and how we’ve played, especially more so the first half and how we’ve stuck to our task in the second half, we deserved something out of the game.”