‘The ‘school report’ after ten league games probably says we are doing well’

Chesterfield chief Paul Cook wants his team to cut out the defensive lapses that have prevented a promising start to the season becoming a very good one.

The Spireites go to Port Vale tomorrow in seventh spot in League Two and with only one defeat from the last nine in all competitions.

The lack of clean sheets - just two in the 13 matches this season -is the obvious area for improvement.

“I have really enjoyed watching the team play but the brutal truth is that I enjoyed watching the team play at Cheltenham and Crawley and yet they only yielded a point,” said Cook. "They are two games we should have come away with a lot more than a point.

"If we had won at Cheltenham we might have played Tranmere to go top. Unfortunately the last couple of weeks have seen us miss good opportunities to maybe be in higher league positions.

"The ‘school report’ after ten league games probably says we are doing well but I am mindful that going forward we do need to eradicate some of these goals we are giving away and ideally pick up more points that can see us get to the places we want to be.”

Chesterfield have fielded the same back four and two regular holding midfielders in Ryan Stirk and George McEachran for the most part.

That underlines Cook confidence in the defensive personnel and the structure, barring unexpected blips.

"One of the disappointing things about the goals conceded is that we go through long spells in games of defending really well and not looking in trouble,” he said. “It is lapses in concentration and little things like that than any major fault.

"The lads must stop conceding the goals they’re conceding. The second Tranmere goal was in the 94th minute of a game we’re not in trouble in.

"The first goal at Crawley was just a free-kick into our box. It’s just a nothing goal. These are the areas that we are trying our best on the training ground to look at and eradicate so we can see more points on the board and a loftier league position than we’re in.”

Next opponents Port Vale have had a bumpier than expected start after relegation back down from League One.

They’ve won only two of their first eight league matches but are unbeaten at Vale Park and have picked up since Chesterfield pipped them in a penalty shoot-out in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy only three weeks ago.

Jon Brady’s side have seen off League One Mansfield in the Trophy and then upset League Two promotion fancies Grimsby Town last weekend.

"I have a lot of time for Jon Brady. He’s a good guy,” said Cook. “He went in there last season when they were in a really perilous position. They have had a summer of change, like most clubs have had, and all of a sudden they are starting to find their feet like probably most managers in the league would expect them to do.

"They have a really good squad with some really good players and it will be a formidable challenge for us.”

After the trip to Vale, Colchester United and Crewe will be waiting around the corner.

Added Cook: “The next run is going to test us all. It’s a really difficult game at Port Vale. When you shut your eyes, they have had a sluggish start but I fully expect them to pick up and get some wind in their sails.

"We then bounce into two home games next week. Again, they are very strong teams in Colchester and Crewe so it is going to be a big week for us and let’s see what the end of it brings.”