Paul Cook is becoming increasingly frustrated at how many times Chesterfield are conceding the first goal in home matches, saying he ‘doesn’t like’ what he is seeing at times.

According to the 58-year-old, since he came back to the club in February 2022, they have been two goals behind at home 13 times and trailed by one goal 34 times. It happened again on Saturday, with Chesterfield conceding after just eight minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Swindon Town, their first league loss on their own turf this term.

The Spireites have only lost a handful of games at the SMH Group Stadium since Cook’s return but he is fed up of conceding first. They currently have the ninth best home record this season with four wins, four draws and one loss.

"We have a real ability to give teams an opportunity to win games here for a team that has a fantastic home record," he told 1866 Sport. “That’s our first (home) defeat (in the league) this season and it’s a big defeat because we wanted to step into that top three. The game was there to be won, the game was in front of them, and we have the ability to help the opposition grow confidence in the game. I watch the same game as our fans and, unfortunately, I don’t like us.”

Chesterfield are joint second for goals scored (32) but they have let in more goals than Harrogate Town, who are in the relegation zone.

Cook continued: “It’s like Groundhog Day. Give the same goals away, don’t start the second-half. It’s like watching the same film time and time again. I don’t know what to say. Well, I do know what to say but I’m not going to say it.”

Despite going behind early on, the Spireites arguably played their best football of the season for the rest of the half but they could not get their noses in front before the break and that came back to bite them as they trailed again on the hour.

Cook added: "When you watched us in the first-half, we looked like a promotion team. Yet you watch us at times in the second-half and we look like a relegation team. That’s what this team is doing to us, including me. The game is about winning and being successful and we keep having the baby in our hand and unfortunately we drop it.”