Chesterfield manager angered at inability of his side to keep hold of their lead

Chesterfield manager John Sheridan laid into his side after they blew a 2-0 lead against Stevenage at the weekend.

The Spireites went into half-time 2-0 up on Saturday thanks to goals from Neal Trotman and Jordan Bowery but Stevenage rallied to take a point from the game thanks to second-half strikes from Scott Laird and Craig Reid.

A clearly angered Sheridan said after the game that some of his players were not mentally strong enough to see the game out, and added that he, as a manager, could not ‘hold their hands’ on the pitch and guide them to victory.

“We threw the game away. I’m not happy one bit with the way we’ve conceded two goals. I thought we did really well first half, got ourselves in a great position to win the game, [it is] very disappointing,” said Sheridan.

“I wish they’d start listening, by the way. Everyone keeps blaming me as the manager but I can’t go out and hold their hands, on the pitch, and tell them how to kick a ball, take a throw-in.

“The first goal killed us. Have you seen the state of the corner that goes in? It’s embarrassing how it goes into the back of the net. Mentally they’re not strong enough, but you’ve got to stick with them. I’m saying things probably that I don’t want to say because I thought for 70 minutes against a very tough team we dominated the game.

“I knew they were going to cause us problems... the first goal is a joke how it’s ended up in the back of the net. I think that’s cost us. It’s given them belief and they get the second goal but we just switch off, [we’re] just not seeing situations and reacting.

“They think they get fined my players if they talk, shout at each other and organise each other. They think I’m going to fine them because it’s always me shouting from the sides.

“I’m getting sick of it. I’m just going to shut up, sit down and watch a game and see how they react and let them get on with it themselves from now on.”