Monday 5th March 2012

After gaining three valuable home points on Saturday, the Spireites are on the road tomorrow as they travel to Deepdale to take on Graham Westley's Preston.

Having moved up 2 places - and off the bottom of League One - John Sheridan's Chesterfield will be hoping to capitalise on the momentum gained through the weekend's victory.

There's more good news for the Blues with both James Hurst and Jimmy Juan likely to be back on the team sheet before long, though at the time of writing, there are as yet unconfirmed reports that on-loan David Davis has been recalled to Wolves tonight.

The Lily Whites sit in 15th, juat 7 places ahead of the Spireites (though with two games in hand) and have yet to find their form under Westley after his move from Stevenage.

We spoke to First Team Coach Mark Crossley (left) ahead of Tuesday's clash and he admitted that, whilst thrilled with the win and the move up the table, there was still much work to do.

Three points and a clean sheet, you must have been pleased with Saturday's result?
"One nils - we need more of them if we're going to get out of the trouble that we're in, grinding out results. It wasn't the prettiest of games but at the end of the day, if we'd have played exceptionally well and won 1-0 we'd have been pleased - we're just as pleased that the lads have dug in and have ground out a result."

There must be a relief not to be at the bottom of the league - that's a psychological advantage isn't it?
"It is, it's happened a couple of times this season and then we've eventually drifted back down but it's tight down there, I think there's 8 teams down there now."

And you've dragged Tranmere into it too?
"Yes, Tranmere are now involved in a scrap as well! I don't think they've won for 11 games now. We've experienced that as we didn't win for 16. You can see a little bit of confidence coming back into the players and we'll try to instill that this week, their work rate has been phenomenal for us and whilst ever you've got 11 players out there working very hard, then you've got a chance."

4 points from safety, with 12 games left, it's still very mathematically possible isn't it?
"I think we need to win 6 games at least and maybe pick up a couple of points - we've only won 7 all season so it is going to be a mighty task. It's no use looking at the fixtures and who you are playing next - you automatically do that and I'm sick of going home on a Saturday night and thinking, 'if we win that game and they lose that game…' - when you're addicted to the game - and it does become an addiction - that's what you tend to do and you can only take each game as it comes."

You have two very tough games coming up against two very physical sides?
"I think if we can perform anything like we did against Preston in the JPT, then there's a big chance that we can get something out of the game as I think it was probably our best game of the season, so we'll be looking to re-enact that performance."

Jordan Bowery scored on Saturday - has he more than justified the two year deal you gave him?
"He has yes! 6'2", pace, power, good in the air, the lad just needs to keep believing in himself but he's gaining that now - you can see that in training on a day to day basis - he's warranted his place in the team and he just needs to go that one step further now. He's a big asset for the club in my opinion - he's got a good goal scoring record and he could turn into a 20-goal-a-season scorer, there's no doubt about that with that belief in himself."

Onto Tranmere - they have a new Manager in Graeme Westley - we know what he can do from Stevenage, but he hasn't got them going yet has he?
"I think it proves that when a new Manager comes in, he needs time to get them the way you want them to take things forward. You only have to look at his record at Stevenage, it's phenomenal. It's outstanding what he did for them and deservedly, he got his move to a bigger club. How long it will take for him to install his ways I don't know, at the moment it's not working but I'm sure, the reports on the way that Graeme works, it won't be too long before they start progressing."

What are you expecting from them?
"They didn't have a good result Saturday, so he'll be using his skills to try and turn that around. Speaking to people who know him in the game, the word is that he'll work very hard to try and turn Saturday's defeat into a win. He knows a lot about us from the last two seasons, he knows what we're all about so tactically, they'll be thinking they can win the game, but we're going there with a bit of confidence as our forms picked up recently."

And injuries - Drew Talbot played Saturday for the first time in a while, did he come through OK?
"Drew's Drew! He's on the ground more than most players but it's just the way he plays, he's in the thick of things and he puts his head where he's prepared to get hurt and that's what you like about Drew - he's in there fighting for the cause."

Jimmy Juan - is he likely to be back?
"It's unbelievable the way his ankle swelled up after Notts County but he made a miraculous recovery and the swelling's gone and he's walking OK. He wants to train this week so we'll have to see how he goes this morning and take it from there."

James Hurst - is he training this morning?
"James is 50/50. We're hopeful that he's going to be available for Tuesday's game, but at the moment it's looking unlikely but Saturday, he's definitely going to be OK for."

Any more injuries picked up on Saturday that you know about?
"A few knocks - I've just been in the treatment room and there are a few bruises and knocks, but I think that was just the sheer guts and determination of the lads, so they'll be training very lightly today, looked at and put through their paces before the big game tomorrow - we need everyone fit."

The b2net seems to have become a bit of a graveyard for Manager's lately with Les Parry the latest casualty after Saturday?
"He's a great guy Les, great entertainment and personally, I don't think he did a bad job at Tranmere, I think that because we've been down near the bottom and we've got some good results, Chairmen think they should be beating the bottom of the league teams - but I don't think we are a bottom of the league team. The way we've performed the second half of the season, I think we've given ourselves a fighting chance."

Any news on anyone coming in?
"We're looking - we've got to be careful - we've got a bit of momentum at the moment but we're always looking. If someone becomes available that we think could strengthen us, then I'm sure there'll be a chance to bring him in so we're speaking about players all the time. We're always looking."

For more information and other CFC news, go to www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk

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