'It's crunch time', says Chesterfield boss James Rowe as National League promotion race reaches final few weeks

With five games to go, the Spireites sit ninth and are two points off the top seven.

Just one win in the last seven has caused Town to tumble down the table but they have been hit by injuries and had a tough fixture schedule.

One the promotion race, Rowe told the DT: “It is crunch time, isn’t it?

“It is basically all or nothing now.

“We have got the experience in the group, we have got proven winners at League One, League Two and National League level and also play-off success in the squad as well.

“We have got experience right through and hopefully that will come to the forefront now.

“We know what is at stake.”

Four wins from the last five should be enough for the Blues to secure a play-off spot and it could even come down to the last day of the season against rivals Halifax on May 29.

But, understandably, Rowe would like them to have got over the line by then.

“Ideally I want it to be finished by then,” He said.

“The advantage we have got is the teams around us are playing each other so they both can’t win and these next four we are not (playing teams around us).

“We have got to make sure we get as points as we can in these next four.

“If it does go to the last game then it does, but I have always said I want to secure a play-off place as soon as possible.

“Results in the last two weeks perhaps have made it impossible that it does not go to the last game but let’s see.”

On the points tally Chesterfield will need to secure a place in the top seven, Rowe added:“ You have an idea of a minimum requirement that will give you a chance, but what the actual points will be needed to get in the top seven, who knows?

“But we don’t just want to get in the top seven, let’s see what happens over the next two weeks in terms of who is in what position and what sort of game we are looking for if we can get a play-off place.”