Paul Cook claims Chesterfield have had an ‘grossly unfair’ season so far yet are still in the mix for potential promotion.
It’s been a rather unusual campaign for the Spireites, going from being league leaders and playing Chelsea in the FA Cup to the surprise departure of James Rowe, the squad suffering long-term injuries and title hopes have vanished as Stockport County storm on.
Now managed Paul Cook, who was appointed mid February, they turn their attention to a strong finish with the playoffs now likely being their only hope of going up.
They earned their first win in five against Wealdstone on Saturday, taking their points total to 70 from 38 games played, sitting fifth in the table.
Their remaning fixtures:
Mon 18 Apr (A) FC Halifax Town – 5.20pm
Sat 23 Apr (H) Dover Athletic – 3pm
Sat 30 Apr (A) Bromley – 3pm
Mon 2 May (H) Stockport County – 3pm
Sat 7 May (A) Torquay United – 12.30pm
Sun 15 May (H) Woking – 3pm
Cook told Derbyshire Times: “Our season has probably been an unfair one with what has gone on at our club. The turmoil from certain situations at the club has been grossly unfair, add into that injuries to big players, suspensions, it has not been a fair season.
“We really are in the mix. That has cemented a good play-off place at the minute.
“Last week (after the defeat to Grimsby) we probably left the stadium thinking we might not get in the play-offs, that is the truth, and I am one of them, I am no different.
“But this week we have seen a lot better signs and what I can guarantee our supporters is that the lads are a very committed group of lads and one thing they won’t let them down with is honesty and appetite.”
Chesterfield will hope to finish in the top three, manage that are they face playing in one less round in the playoffs, with those who end up between 4th and 7th playing in the playoff quarter-finals, win that then they go to the semis, and then the final.
Cook said on the Wealdstone result, via Derbyshire Times: “It was a must-win game, if you like, and we did. The reality is we are delighted, simple as that.”
On the performance, he added: “We do some really good things and we do some really bad things. Sometimes our decision-making processes are probably not what we would all like them to be but we have got such a good honest bunch of players it is untrue. It is as good as I have had, I have to say that.
“I don’t doubt this team in terms of honesty or work ethic. I question some of our decision-making and some of the madness we do but that is for another day. I enjoy working with them and their honesty shines through.”
CURRENT LEAGUE STANDINGS:
| P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport County | 36 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 79 | 29 | +50 | 82 | |
| 2 | Wrexham | 36 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 74 | 38 | +36 | 74 | |
| 3 | FC Halifax Town | 37 | 22 | 7 | 8 | 55 | 29 | +26 | 73 | |
| 4 | Solihull Moors | 37 | 20 | 11 | 6 | 67 | 39 | +28 | 71 | |
| 5 | Chesterfield | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 64 | 40 | +24 | 70 | |
| 6 | Notts County | 37 | 18 | 10 | 9 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 64 | |
| 7 | Grimsby Town | 37 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 55 | 35 | +20 | 63 | |
| 8 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 37 | 18 | 5 | 14 | 64 | 45 | +19 | 59 | |
| 9 | Boreham Wood | 35 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 41 | 27 | +14 | 59 | |
| 10 | Torquay United | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 56 | |
| 11 | Bromley | 35 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 47 | 40 | +7 | 54 | |
| 12 | Yeovil Town | 37 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 38 | 40 | -2 | 50 | |
Some fans reacted as Paul Cook claims that Chesterfield have had an ‘grossly unfair’ season so far…
@lukeCFC25: He’s obviously doing everything he can to sort out the mess that the previous manager left behind. If he doesn’t get us promoted this season, there’s always next season
@ROBERTs40324061: No it’s our previous gaffer he’s caused all this. 100% the blame is on him. cookie n Webb are trying there best slowly we’re getting players back can see why cookie didn’t bring anybody in
Dave Frow: To be fair, he’s right. A hell of a lot has gone against the staff there and they could all have easily used it all as excuses. They haven’t and that’s so admirable they all deserve massive credit. Would it have been nice to stay top of the league and canter to the title? Absolutely. However, life throws you lemons and at the end of the day the resolve and togetherness has kept the club in the mix. Well done to all.
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