Previous encounter with tonight's hosts was a moment that gave Lester hope

Chesterfield's previous encounter with tonight's hosts Morecambe was a game that filled Jack Lester with hope.
Picture Andrew Roe/AHPIX LTD, Football, EFL Sky Bet League Two, Chesterfield Town v Morecambe, Proact Stadium, 14/10/17, K.O 3pm

Chesterfield's Louis Reed is tackled by Aaron McGowan 

Andrew Roe>>>>>>>07826527594Picture Andrew Roe/AHPIX LTD, Football, EFL Sky Bet League Two, Chesterfield Town v Morecambe, Proact Stadium, 14/10/17, K.O 3pm

Chesterfield's Louis Reed is tackled by Aaron McGowan 

Andrew Roe>>>>>>>07826527594
Picture Andrew Roe/AHPIX LTD, Football, EFL Sky Bet League Two, Chesterfield Town v Morecambe, Proact Stadium, 14/10/17, K.O 3pm Chesterfield's Louis Reed is tackled by Aaron McGowan Andrew Roe>>>>>>>07826527594

The visit of the Shrimps to the Proact saw the hosts beaten 2-0, but they dominated the second half and were only denied by the inspired form of ex Town keeper Barry Roche.

Lester’s Spireites seemed to improve after that outing, his fourth in charge as manager, losing only three of their next 11.

It was a performance that gave him cause for optimism.

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“That was the moment after we came in when we thought we’d be okay,” he said.

“That was the moment, that game, the way we played in the second half in a difficult situation, we hadn’t been in the club long but we spoke after and thought we’ve got something to work with here.

“We fancied ourselves and that game gave us a lot of hope, even though we lost it 2-0.

“From then we’ve gone on good runs.”

But with seven games left in the season, Town find themselves sitting bottom as they prepare for the return fixture with Morecambe.

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They’re six points off safety with games in hand over the five sides sitting above them.

Morecambe themselves aren’t in great form, winning just three of their last 15 outings.

But Lester is expecting a difficult evening, given his experiences against the Shrimps as both a player and a manager.

His playing career featured six fixtures with Morecambe, three of which he drew and the other three he lost.

“A tough one, they’ve got some good players,” he said.

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“It’s always been a tough game, it was when I was a player here, it’s one of those teams.

“It’s one we can go and compete in.

“We’ll have to match their energy and their fight and then try and win the game.

“If we can win it’ll be fantastic.”

Lester hopes that a victory, either tonight or against bitter rivals Mansfield on Saturday, will be a catalyst to Chesterfield’s survival bid.

“We’ve been speaking to the players, you win on Tuesday or you win on Saturday, one of those two games, you go and have a game against Exeter and then you play Forest Green – it’s so in our own hands,” he said.

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“If we can win one of our next two games, obviously we’d like to win both, but even one of those it sets up another big tie.

“We learn from our inadequacies of the Port Vale and Grimsby games and try to replicate the top performances and good runs we’ve had. That’s the challenge for us and the players.”