Wilson targeting goalscoring, giving players a dose of reality and embracing Chesterfield FC's relegation battle

Danny Wilson is targeting goalscoring as he attemps to steer Chesterfield out of relegation trouble in League One.
Burton Albion vs Chesterfield - Danny Wilson - Pic By James WilliamsonBurton Albion vs Chesterfield - Danny Wilson - Pic By James Williamson
Burton Albion vs Chesterfield - Danny Wilson - Pic By James Williamson

Friday night’s defeat by league leading Burton and Saturday’s results combined to drop Spireites into 19th place in the table, ahead of tomorrow night’s vital relegation clash with bottom side Colchester.

Spireites have scored just two goals in their last four games, and Wilson believes the lack of attacking threat has to be addressed immediately.

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The Northern Irishman is attempting to bring players in during the emergency loan window, but may still be without the services of both Lee Novak (illness) and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake tomorrow night.

He said: “Lee was a lot better yesterday, it’s whether or not he feels right on Tuesday.

“We will wait until the morning to make a decision on that one, and the same with Sylvan as well, we’ll give his hamstring strain as long as we can.”

With or without the strike pairing, Wilson says Spireites have to do better in the attacking third.

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“Maybe other teams have prolific goalscorers and we don’t at the minute,” he said.

“When you’ve got someone who’s in double figures, that’s why some of the other teams find themselves where they are.

“You can go back, there have been 20 different occasions I can think of in the last few games where if we’d have done better maybe we’d have produced a goal, or maybe if someone had anticipated things more quickly that would have produced a goal.

“That’s what we’ve got to be working on, in front of goal is the most important thing for us. I think we’re fairly tight at the back, we don’t give away a lot of goals. Going forward we’ve got to do better.”

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Wastefulness is one of the reasons Chesterfield find themselves in the drop zone, and boss let his players know about it after Friday’s 1-0 defeat by Burton Albion.

He revealed: “They didn’t have a chance to say anything after the game on Friday, I stole the show. I don’t like saying that, but it was needed.

“We had to get some reality into our minds as to why we’re conceding the goals we are and not producing at the other end.

“They know how I feel. I don’t like ranting and raving, it’s not my style really, but sometimes you have to do.

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“We’ve done enough to come away with something. If you can’t win the game you make sure you don’t lose it. We let a sloppy goal in, we let good chances be wasted by indecision in front of goal.

“The pressure it puts us under by not taking those opportunities is clear to be seen - we’re fourth from bottom.

“It’s important the players understand that.

While he insists one of the keys to getting Spireites out of trouble will be positivity around the club, Wilson isn’t avoiding talk of a relegation battle.

“We’re not going to sit back and hope and pray we get results, and pretend everything will be okay.

“We need to embrace the situation.”

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“The fans were fantastic at Burton the other night. They’re well aware of the challenge facing us, but I think they generally believe – as we do – that we’ll be okay.

“But we have to be very realistic about where we are. We have to go with positivity, knowing what we need to do and addressing it very early.”