Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver was left to reflect on a slow start after claiming an away point at Chesterfield.

Lee Bonis, who had given the hosts a first-half lead, was sent-off in the 59th minute following a second booking in the space of a few minutes, before Tobias Brenan scored the equaliser, six minutes from time.

Weaver insisted he was confident of getting at least a draw going into the game.

He said: “I don’t think many people outside our changing room are backing us to get a point here today but we were in a confident mood going into the game and wanted at least a point obviously, and we’ve achieved that.

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

placeholder image — Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. (Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

“I know we started slowly – which is the disappointing aspect of the afternoon – where it was a little bit timid and it was all about getting on the front foot.

“But credit to them, they’re a good team. They pinned us back in the first 15 minutes and succumbed to a goal, but we improved after and the reaction was good.

“I thought we just gave the ball away needlessly at times and it made us look a bit flaky.

“It was far removed from the same team, the same inscriptions. It was far removed from that first 15 minutes of last week when we were really pushing hard and forward.

“We just got a little bit sloppy in possession and the turnovers went their way and resulted in us being pinned back and we have to learn from that.”