The task facing Marcus Bignot was laid bare last night as Chester FC fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Woking at the Swansway Chester Stadium.
Goals from Kane Ferdinand and Jamie Philpot handed the Card a deserved success as the Blues struggled to match the intensity of their visitors, who rise to third thanks to this win.
Here is how the action unfolded.
Key Events
Bignot: "I've learned a lot about the group"
Here’s what Marcus Bignot had to say post match
Full time: Chester 0 Woking 2
The Blues played their part in a decent game but Woking had too much for them. Plenty to ponder for Marcus Bignot.
Nightmare
Halls’ backpass is underhit and sees Lynch scrambling to reach it and his slide challenge on Philpot sees the striker break free and slide into an empty net. Gutting.
Off the post
Astles’ flicked header hits the post and rolls back across goal and chance goes begging. Blues unlucky not to be level.
Chester much improved
Blues still well in this and pushing for a leveller. The Woking pressing game has ended it seems.
Offside
Great ball from James finds Hannah at the back post whose header is saved and then rebound hits the post but he is flagged for offside.
Fired wide
Tom Shaw volleys wide from the edge of the box after Dawson’s free kick punched clear by Baxter.
Chance goes begging
Halls pass inside finds Hannah who races into the area, finds Akintunde who touches on to Shaw but the Chester midfielder is closed down 10 yards out when he was about to pull the trigger.
Saved
Baxter down low to save Dawson’s first time effort from 18 yards after Hannah held it up and found the midfielder.
Under the cosh
Woking seeing a lot of the ball in the final third at the moment. Blues struggling to get out early on in the second.
Half time: Chester 0 Woking 1
Ferdinand header on 10 minutes the difference at the break. Woking’s press started to fade slightly and Chester are very much in this. LRT finding plenty of room to advance down the left.
Headed wide
Corner ball whipped in by Dawson but James heads wide when well placed. 37 mins.
Close!
Davies with superb long ball to Akintunde whose low ball across the area is touched on by Hannah but Baxter saves.
Unlucky
Rowe-Turner takes a high ball superbly in his stride to advance in the area but left-footed effort is saved by Baxter and Shaw eventually shoots over. Better from Chester, though. 33 mins.
Signs of life
Tom Shaw closes down Baxter’s clearance well and it almost falls to Akintunde. Gets a roar from the home faithful.
Mahon struggling
Receiving some treatment. Looks like Liam Davies will be entering the fray soon.