Five big talking points as Chesterfield's play-off push continues with win against Yeovil Town

Chesterfield’s march towards the play-offs continued with a win against Yeovil Town on Saturday.
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The Spireites scored three times in the second-half as they crushed the Glovers, who had won five out of their last six before kick-off, at the Technique Stadium.

The points were sealed with goals from Akwasi Asante, Tom Whelan and Jak McCourt.

Ruthless touch

Tom Whelan dedicated his goal to his uncle Paul who passed away on Friday.Tom Whelan dedicated his goal to his uncle Paul who passed away on Friday.
Tom Whelan dedicated his goal to his uncle Paul who passed away on Friday.
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Manager James Rowe wanted to see his team be more ruthless and they certainly did that in the second-half. I said recently that others need to start chipping in with goals to help Asante, and Whelan and McCourt stepped up to the plate with two good finishes. In the end it could have been four or five and Asante could have bagged a hat-trick but they got the job done in style. Whelan set up Asante for the opener and he dedicated his afternoon’s work to his uncle Paul who passed away on Friday.

The stats don’t lie

Six straight home league wins. Unbeaten in eight at the Technique. In those eight matches, Town have not conceded a single goal from open play. The only goal they conceded was a penalty against Wrexham. It is now just two defeats in 16. They have recorded 10 clean sheets in those 16, including in four out of the last five. Akwasi Asante has scored 10 league goals in 14 appearances. Happy days.

The play-offs are on

Alex Whittle celebrates with Akwasi Asante after the striker gave Chesterfield the lead on Saturday.Alex Whittle celebrates with Akwasi Asante after the striker gave Chesterfield the lead on Saturday.
Alex Whittle celebrates with Akwasi Asante after the striker gave Chesterfield the lead on Saturday.

The league table looks a lot better now with Chesterfield positioned nicely in ninth and just two points off the top seven with games in hand. The Spireites are serious contenders for the play-offs and, to be honest, I think they could even finish second or third and advance to the semi-final stage of the end of season nail biters. No pressure then! The tough run of fixtures continues with Maidenhead United away on Saturday and then what could be a cracker against second-placed Sutton United the following Tuesday. After that, the Blues face bottom clubs Barnet, Dover Athletic (if it goes ahead) and Weymouth which should return a healthy number of points. It’s on…

What a week

Rowe and top scorer Asante signed new contracts this week until the summer of 2024 and Town record back-to-back home wins and clean sheets against two in-form sides to climb into the top half of the table and to within two points of the play-offs. ‘If Carlsberg did weeks’…

Momentum

Asante scored his 10th goal in 14 league games to put the Spireites ahead.Asante scored his 10th goal in 14 league games to put the Spireites ahead.
Asante scored his 10th goal in 14 league games to put the Spireites ahead.
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With no midweek game Town have a rare free week to prepare for Maidenhead on Saturday. With the momentum they have got perhaps you could argue it has come at a bad time but I think it is much-needed. They have played five matches in two weeks following an isolation period so it will give them a chance to recover and get ready for another chunk of five games where they will play Sat-Tuesday until the end of the month.

Spireites XI (5-3-1-1): G Smith; Carline, Kerr, Gunning, Maguire, Whittle (Taylor, 78); Weston, McCourt, Whelan; Mandeville (Clarke, 80); Asante (Tyson, 75). Unused subs: Evans, M.Smith.

Goals: Asante (48), Whelan (68), McCourt (78).