Chesterfield ignore the form book ahead of crucial last-day decider with Swindon Town
Chesterfield are not reading anything into Swindon Town’s shaky form heading into Saturday’s do-or-die League Two finale.
The Spireites are on a season’s best seven-game unbeaten run while the ropy Robins have won only one of their last six and were outfought and out-thought in last week’s 4-0 drubbing at Grimsby.
Even with home advantage at the County Ground, they are not fancied to get the win they need to leapfrog the Spireites into the fourth and final play-off place.
Chesterfield assistant boss Danny Webb is guarded, knowing from recent experience that form can suddenly turn.
He told the Derbyshire Times: "We watched Swindon’s game with Grimsby and to be fair to Swindon they were well and truly battered.
"We got battered the other week by Oldham and it was all doom and gloom and then they fell off a cliff.
"Form can end or start very quickly. We’re in good form but it can end at any moment. Swindon’s form isn’t fantastic but it could start again at any moment.”
More than 2,000 supporters will follow Chesterfield down to Swindon and if the team can collect a point then they can start making plans for the play-offs for the second year on the spin.
And while there is sometimes a temptation for clubs to tweak their preparations for big games, Chesterfield will stick with the tried and tested.
"We will travel down overnight because anything over three hours is the point where you usually go overnight as a football club,” explained Webb.
"Training is similar to what it always is, plus a little sprinkle of stuff geared to how Swindon play.
"This match will probably be a lot more psychological as well as tactical because it will be a packed house and we are taking 2,000. Can we handle the pressure? I think we can. It’s up to the players to go and show it.”
Chesterfield won’t be under-powered for their biggest game of the season.
Will Grigg, Tom Pearce and Will Dickson are back in harness after injury and Lee Bonis is scoring goals at the sharp end of a team showing cohesion and resilience.
Added Webb: "What is pleasing the last couple of months or so is the ‘goals against’ column is looking good.
"We have to be ready for Swindon because they will put the ball in the box and they’ve got a lot of lads over 6ft 4in and we have to stand up to the challenge.
"Crewe were a bit more similar to us in how they play. This will be a different challenge for sure.”
Kick-off is 3pm and the game will be screened in the newly refurbished lounges at the SMH Group Stadium for people not making the trip.
More details on the club website.