Tuesday 16th April 2013
by Dave Dove

Chesterfield had a slim chance of making the play-offs before Saturday's game against Bradford City.

The chance is now considerably slimmer but Sam Togwell's injury time equaliser ensured it's not yet quite skeletal.

If Saturday's game was a 'must win', then tonight's (Tuesday 16th April) fixture at the Proact Stadium against Plymouth Argyle is a '3 points is an absolutely 100% nailed on essentiality'!

As a result of Saturday's draw, the Spireites remain in ninth place with 61 points. Bradford City, who are still the only realistically catchable target in the play-off zone, have four points more. Both teams have three games left to play.

Chesterfield fans will find themselves in the unfamiliar position on Tuesday of willing Rotherham United to win; the Millers face Bradford City at Valley Parade and would do the Spireites a massive favour if they could take all the points.

Adding further to the spice of tonight's fixture is Plymouth Argyle boss John Sheridan's return to Chesterfield. He was relieved of his duties at the Proact Stadium after the Spireites failed to win any of their opening three games of the season.

Sheridan (left) became manager at Plymouth on 6th January this year. At that time the team were in a relegation spot, two points from safety having played two more games than their nearest rivals. The Pilgrims now sit in a more comfortable 19th place but are still only 3 points clear of the relegation places.

On Saturday, Plymouth looked like securing a draw at Burton Albion until the 4th minute of stoppage time when they conceded the only goal of the game.

Things got worse for the Pilgrims after the game when it was revealed that six goal top scorer Jason Banton had been recalled by Crystal Palace from his loan spell at Home Park. The 20 year old winger played 14 games for Plymouth since being signed by John Sheridan in January.

When the two sides met in the reverse fixture at Home Park last November, Chesterfield were 1-0 winners thanks to Marc Richards' 66th minute strike. It was the third in a sequence of four successive League wins for the Spireites, although manager Paul Cook conceded it wasn't a great performance and Plymouth were probably worth a point.

Jack Lester, who played the final 10 minutes against Bradford City, has aggravated a back problem and will miss tonight's game. Marc Richards replaced Conor Townsend in the 56th minute on Saturday and looks likely to start up front for the Spireites.

Even if Chesterfield are ultimately unsuccessful in their quest for the play-offs, the recent run of results has at least given some significance to the end of season matches.

A few weeks ago the season looked to be effectively over but now we have yet another big game to look forward to tonight.

If anything this match is even more important for the visitors than for the Spireites.

It promises to be every bit as entertaining as the previous two home games but who wouldn't settle for a boring 1-0 win rather than a 2-2 thriller?

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

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