Chesterfield manager's respect for Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway ahead of last-day showdown

With a combined age of 122 and decades of experience in the game as players and managers, Cook (59) and Holloway (63) are two of the most learned operators in the EFL.

They have seven promotions between them, Cook with four and Holloway with three, and either could add to that number via this season’s League Two play-offs.

“Ian is a really good football person,” the Spireites boss told the Derbyshire Times before travelling south for the fixture. “He has such a good wealth of experience at every level in the game and he has a few more games under his belt than me, which is good.

"He is so emotional and motivational to his players. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he has an amazing CV."

Holloway has been highly critical of his players for a late-season slump that has dropped them out of the top seven.

They can repair the damage with a win tomorrow but will meet a Spireites side unbeaten in seven and needing only a point to make the cut for the play-offs.

“Swindon have had an outstanding season,” said Cook. “They might not feel like it in this moment because we all live in a moment now in football where perception is everything. The brutal truth is that they have been probably considered for automatic all year and they have only dropped out of the top seven now.

"It is obvious to everyone that they can go back in the top seven if they win tomorrow. That’s probably enough said.”

The team boss is reluctant to discuss the finer details of the contest but does think it can live up to its billing in front of a full house at the County Ground.

He added: "Both teams are playing to get in the play-offs. I don’t think you will ever see an Ian Holloway team not play to win and I’m quite sure the same applies for a Paul Cook team, so I’m confident it is going to be a good game.”