Friday 14th March 2014

Despite gaining only two points from the last three games, the Spireites are still top of SkyBet League Two as they prepare to face Oxford United at the Proact Stadium on Saturday.

All of the teams at the upper end of the table have been struggling for consistency - and none more so than Oxford.

On Tuesday, Oxford picked up only their second point in five games, when they drew 1-1 at home to Cheltenham Town. Ryan Williams opened the scoring for Oxford but Jamie Cureton equalised for the visitors in the 84th minute.

Last Saturday, Ryan Williams was also Oxford's scorer when they went down 2-1 at home to Burton Albion - both Burton's goals coming in the opening 26 minutes.

Oxford's last victory was six games ago when they beat Mansfield 3-0 (and we certainly won't begrudge them that!) They currently lie sixth in the table with 55 points from 36 games.

Chesterfield have eight points more from the same number of games.

Tuesday's 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon was a big improvement on the referee-assisted 3-1 defeat at Accrington three days earlier.

The second half performance could easily have ended with the Spireites taking all three points. None of the top seven teams in action that night managed to win so a draw was by no means a bad result.

When the sides played each other at the Kassam Stadium on 21st September, they were both undefeated going into the game. Ritchie Humphreys' volley from Eoin Doyle's cross in the 30th minute, was enough to give Chesterfield their seventh win in eight games and push Oxford out of the top three.

The Spireites went four points clear at the top of the table and it was looking like it might be a straightforward march to the League Two Championship.

Seven winless league games later it looked far less straightforward!

Nevertheless, the important statistic is that six months later, we're still top.

Former Spireite Deane Smalley has been a regular in the Oxford side this season and looks likely to start on Saturday. The 25 year old forward played 28 times and scored 12 goals whilst on loan from Oldham Athletic during our Championship winning season three years ago. This season he has scored seven in 27 appearances for Oxford.

Paul Cook has said that Chesterfield's two new loan signings will start on the bench on Saturday. Daniel Kearns, on loan from Peterborough United, looked lively after coming on as a 66th minute substitute for Jimmy Ryan against Wimbledon.

17 year old striker Mason Bennett signed on a month's loan from Derby County on Thursday. Paul Cook has acknowledged that his team have been lacking a cutting edge and Bennett could be the man to provide it.

Tommy Lee has had a slight thigh strain but it shouldn't prevent him starting on Saturday.

Dan Gardner's injury, sustained at Accrington, is not as bad as first feared but he will certainly not be available for Saturday. Drew Talbot also remains unavailable.

With only ten games remaining to the end of the season, it's important the Spireites return to winning ways on Saturday.

What appear to be two very good loan signings could help provide the impetus needed to make that happen.

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

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