Rivals Review - Chesterfield

Position: 8th

Record: PL 45 W 19 D 11 L 15 PTS 68

Recent form (earliest to latest): L,W,W,D,D,L

Manger: Lee Richardson must ultimately be deemed a failure in his first

Richardson

season in charge of Chesterfield. He inherited a squad of undoubted talent, surely too strong for League Two but still managed to squander their promotion hopes, even failing to make the play-offs. The former journeyman as a player has a good knowledge of lower league football and to his credit tries to play the game the right way. More was expected from him, but any manager who fails to win promotion from the fourth tier with a goal scorer such as Jack Lester should not be regarded as sucessful. The 39-year-old has learned the ropes this season and should come back strong next term though. After beating Posh in their opening away game of the season, he should have gone on to achieve more.

Top scorer: Jack Lester has run away with the Spireites top scorer crown this season and even came close to the division big hitter, Aaron McLean, as well. The former Nottingham forest man has netted 26 times in all competitions for

Lester

Chesterfield this season and it is not at all surprising. The veteran front man has a great eye for goal and was always predicted to produce great things in League Two this season. When Richardson captured his man in the summer, it struck fear into the other 23 sides but his goals have not been enough to earn Chesterfield promotion. With another two years still left on his contract, Lester will be hard to stop again next season.

Strengths: Chesterfield are a very difficut team to stop when they are going forward. They like to attack and have racked up the goals as a result this season. The Spireites have netted an incredible 75 times in the league - a great knock in comparison to Notts' effort of just 36. Jack Lester and Jamie Ward have led the way but contributions from Jamie Lowry, Peter Leven, Steven Fletcher and Adam Rooney should not be under-estimated. Only MK Dons, Peterborough and Rochdale have scored more than the entertaining Spireites, showing they have under-achieved this season. Or more precisely, scored enough goals to still be in the running for promotion.

Weaknesses: Home form must be pin-pointed as a spoiling factor in Chesterfield's season. Despite scoring the second most goals of any side in the division on their own soil, the Spireites have still only chalked up nine home wins, just one more than struggling County. They have won the fewest home games of any team currently in the top half of the table and for that have paid the ultimate price. When Barnet have more home points than you, you probably know you will not be going up.

Best win: 4-0 v Hereford, Saltergate. Monday 21 January 2008.

Ward

4-0 v Wrexham, Racecourse Ground. Tuesday 02 October 2007.

Worst defeat: 4-2 v Grimsby, Blundell Park. Saturday 09 February 2008.

In-form player: Jamie Ward has been in the goals of late for the Spireites with 5 strikes in the last six games including two fine braces against both Dagenham and Shrewsbury. The recent flurry takes the front man to 12 for the campaign. Chesterfield paid their first transfer fee in nearly seven years to sign him from Torquay in the summer. The 21-year-old is already in the Republic of Ireland international mix, and has a very bright future in the game.

Player of the season: Jack Lester can be the only candidate here. After being named in the PFA League Team of the Year earlier this week, his performances this season can not be overlooked. The Spireites may even have been in Notts' boat if it wasn't for his contribution. Securing his services can be seen as a real coup.

Final day history: The Magpies may really fancy their chances at Saltergate this weekend with Chesterfield only having enjoyed final day victory once in the last five years, when they took the scalp of Luton Town 1-0 in 2004 thanks to a goal from former Magpie Glynn Hurst.

The Spireites are without a goal on the last day for two years, a record Russell Hoult and company will be keen to extend.