THANKFULLY, the Chesterfield game is out the way with the right result.

I've been there before over the years and it's a horrible place to go. We have never done too well - I certainly don't think I've ever won there.

When we were promoted, that's why you thought 'YEEES!' because you don't ever want to have to go back to the likes of that place again.

I said to the United boys, Chaddy and Rochy, this is what football was all about at Burnley a few years ago.

It was probably a hell of a culture shock for those lads after being used to playing in such a magnificent arena every week.

But like I said, we dug in and got the result we wanted to hopefully set us up for a nice home tie in the second round against decent opposition.

It wasn't half the scrap we expected because this Chesterfield side tried to play football and there was a bit of time and space.

In years gone by they were horrible matches there that resembled a siege with long throws and bombs thrown into the box.

As for my miss, I would like to plead the case for the defence. I went around the keeper and was definitely brought down. I tried to stay on my feet and the referee tried to say 'play on'.

But the lad got back to tackle me and when the ball hit the post I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a clear penalty, but there you go.

Sometimes you can try to be too honest and nice maybe, but it was an open goal if I stayed on my feet, so I tried my best and just stumbled after the challenge.

Sometimes you get the decision and sometimes not, so it was a bit of a nightmare.

That led to extra time and another ninety minutes we could have done without. But that was really down to Blakey missing an open goal, which was much worse than mine - and I've let him know it!

I think the extra-time, the fitness kicked it. We have all side this is the hardest pre-season we've had and of coursed you are going to be a bit tired after two hours, but I thought the longer it went on the stronger we got.

WHAT can I say about the Hulk's performance at Chesterfield?

He was seen as the guilty man after the Palace game, and everyone was gutted not to get the season up and running with a win, especially against nine men.

It's always horrible when you are looking forward to the start of the season and you throw in a performance like that.

Mistakes kill you as a goalkeeper, but we all stuck by him and he showed what a good keeper he is at Saltergate.

He made some good saves to keep us in it and on the penalties he is looking like the penalty shoot-out king.

All the lads ran towards him after he made the last save and we were all delighted for him.

I'm sure that will be a confidence booster for him ahead of his return to West Brom and he will be looking to show their fans just what they are missing.