Chesterfield boss James Rowe: 'It is about promotion, not play-offs'

That is what Chesterfield manager James Rowe said after Tuesday night’s narrow win against Altrincham at the Technique Stadium.

Akwasi Asante scored the only goal of the game and then Grant Smith made a heroic penalty save to give the Spireites a scrappy victory.

The visitors edged the first half and look threatening with their pace on the counter-attack.

But Town started the better team after the break and got the job done.

The win moves Chesterfield to within six points of the play-offs but they have played four games fewer than seventh-placed Wrexham.

But Rowe, who was at Aldershot Town when they lost twice in the National League play-offs, says it is about more than that.

“We are climbing slowly, we are shifting in the right direction,” he said.

“What’s the point in getting in the play-offs if you can’t get promoted? It’s about promotion, if we want to go for it, it is about promotion, not play-offs. I have lost in the play-offs twice at this level and I don’t want to lose for a third time if we get in there, it is about promotion, not play-offs.”

He added: “It is another one-nil, I will take that all day if we win one-nil until the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, Rowe praised the impact his three substitutions of Marcus Dinanga, Joel Taylor and Jack Clarke had against the Robins.

“Marcus gave us good energy, Jack ran his socks off and I thought Joel made a big impact,” Rowe said. “He (Taylor) took the ball for us, got us up the pitch really well, got two corners and two deliveries in there so not only was he defensively sound I thought he carried the ball up and relieves the pressure for us. They all had an impact.”

Rowe said that Alex Whittle, who was substituted with half an hour to go after going down injured, was ‘fine’ but admitted there are some ‘tired legs and minds’ after two tough games against promotion contenders.

“We will regroup and expect some changes Saturday to freshen it again,” he added.