Spireites will not lack energy under Lester - Barry

Barry said the Spireites have not lacked fitness so far this season but the defender has seen a noticeable shift in gear in training since Lester took over last week.

The 22-year-old started Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy tie against Rotherham United - his first appearance since seeing red against Accrington Stanley on September 16.

And it brought a change in fortunes for Chesterfield as they sealed a 2-1 win over their South Yorkshire neighbours thanks to Jak McCourt’s late winner.

“It’s the energy that we’ve got now,” said Barry. “No matter what happens in the game our energy levels are at as much as we can give.

“We work at it in training, as soon as you lose the ball you go and win it back. Nearest man gets closest to the ball.

“It’s the little things the gaffer has brought in but it was needed and we’re more solid.

“We’re harder to play against for being ruthless in the right areas and being aggressive in the right manner.”

When asked what the biggest change Lester has made, Barry replied: “Energy.”

He added: “That’s the main thing for us - getting us up to speed. We’re a fit group but you can be a fit group and be lazy.

“He (Lester) wants every player to be in the opposition’s faces. Training has been hard but we’re not out of our depth and he knows what we can do.”

Tuesday night’s win has been a morale-booster for Chesterfield fans and players alike.

“We all needed that win and everyone’s more cheerful now,” said Barry, speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Lincoln City.

“We win on Tuesday and we’re ‘right, that’s done now, who’s the next opposition’. We’ve got the team. We know what we’re good at and we know what we’re bad at.

“We work at it through the week. We’re upping our game now and realise we need to take what was good from Tuesday and take it into Saturday.”

The Imps sit 11th in the table going into Saturday’s League Two encounter at Sincil Bank and Barry was under no illusions at the size of his task.

He said: “They’re going to be a tough side. That’s why they’re up here now. We’re not going to be threatened by anyone in this league and we need to remember that as well.

“We don’t go into games thinking ‘we can nick a win here’, we go into games thinking ‘we’re going to win’.”

Barry, one of Gary Caldwell’s summer signings following his release from Swindon Town, has enjoyed every minute of his stay so far.

“It’s been a different experience moving further away from home, meeting a new bunch of lads but I’ve enjoyed every minute,” said Barry, who is adapting to life under a new manager.

“That’s the way football is. You’ve just got to adapt when new managers come in. Obviously he’s (Lester’s) been a big player for this club.

“For me it’s adapting to how he wants to play. The gaffer believes in me, he chose me to play on Tuesday night.

“I feel like all the boys are adapting well. Having been brought in by Gary Caldwell, it was sad times for me when he left.

“But that’s just the way football is and you’ve got to adapt for the rest of the season.”

And added: “It makes you work harder, knowing that you’ve got to impress in front of a new manager. You have to do that in football.

“Sometimes it makes everyone up their game that little bit more. It’s fresh faces around the place and you’ve got to impress everyone.

“Going on the performance from Tuesday night we’re more solid and I think we’re working more as a unit, not just the back four, the whole team.

“We’re all getting to know what the manager wants and it’s working.”