Arsenal-owned Nigerian midfielder helps Chesterfield maintain unbeaten start on home debut

Arsenal-owned Nigerian-born midfielder Tim Akinola made his home debut for Chesterfield on Tuesday evening.

Akinola joined the Spireites on loan on deadline day, signing a deal for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season.

Ten days after playing his first senior game in English football at Oldham Athletic, the Kogi-born youngster was named in the matchday squad for the visit of Southend United but started on the bench.

With thirty minutes remaining, Akinola was sent on to add more defensive solidity in midfield and he did a good job as the home team did not concede again after letting in two goals within thirteen minutes.

Jack Clarke opened the scoring for Chesterfield in the 19th minute but the visitors hit back through Callum Powell in the 33rd minute and it ensured both teams entered the break level.

Southend took the lead through Marcus Dackers a minute into the second half, but Quigley fired into the bottom corner to restore parity at minute 63 and King completed the turnaround when he fired home from arounds 25 yards out in the 69th minute.

Chesterfield have yet to taste defeat in the new season and are atop the standings with twenty points after six wins and two draws from eight matches.

Akinola spent the second half of last season on loan at Dundee United but his loan spell at the Scottish Premiership club was cut short after he suffered an ankle injury in training.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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