After 15 shots and 70 per cent of possession in Saturday’s tie at Fleetwood Town, they really should be in it.
The only stats that mattered were 1 and 0, the decisive blow struck by the boot of a certain Ched Evans.
Chesterfield played some lovely stuff in the second half and deserved to take the tie to penalties. Fleetwood will argue they deserved to edge it for a stubborn backs-to-the-wall defensive effort.
The plusses for the losers were some promising signs from their clutch of newcomers, all of whom will be in the frame for this weekend’s much more important League Two opener back at the SMH.
In the meantime here’s my stab at player ratings from Saturday’s game.
9. Dilan Markanday: 8
Dilan Markanday 8: Good across both halves and had the home defenders on tenterhooks. Just couldn't provide the "moment of magic" Paul Cook wanted Photo: Leila Coker
10. Josh Koroma: 5
Josh Koroma 5: Difficult one to rate. Took up good positions but needlessly booked for a dive when he had the beating of his man Photo: Tina Jenner
11. Ruel Sotiriou: 6
Ruel Sotiriou 6: Sprayed some nice passes around in the first half but got fewer mentions in my notepad after the break. Still a decent show from a player settling in Photo: Tina Jenner
12. Lee Bonis: 6
Lee Bonis 6: Close with a shot on the turn in the first half. Even closer when he clipped the crossbar in the second half. Not his day Photo: Barrington Coombs