Big Local Scores To Settle In The Live BT Sport Game

It’s a return to Meadow Lane for Chesterfield, the scene of their play-off unravelling back in June.

Notts County away in the sunshine doesn’t hold too many fond memories after Mark Ellis’ late, late winner.

Elimination of the Eliminators took some getting over. Now they want to demonstrate how much they have come on since last summer.

But Ian Burchnall feels his team have improved too - and want to set the record straight themselves.

Earlier this month they collapsed late at the home of their big rivals, pictured, enhancing their foes’ title chances in the process.

Notts are good at home, though. Tuesday’s win over Boreham Wood means only FC Halifax are better in front of their own fans.

With ten to go they are looking good for the play-offs but they aren’t there yet, their head coach was quick to stress after back-to-back wins.

"I said a while back I don't really look too much at the table this early, and I still don't," he said to NottsLive.

"But I think it's important that Saturday's the last time we play a team from the top ten.

“That doesn't mean our run-in is easy - but certainly a lot of teams around us have to play each other, which means somebody is losing points.

"I think we've got to stay focused for a really, really tough game on Saturday, then we've come out of the month that we knew was tough.”

Paul Cook didn’t exactly say it, but you get the feeling he knows Chesterfield need to win this weekend and keep on doing so to keep leaders Stockport County in their sights.

The gap is ten points and it can’t be allowed to become bigger by 5pm on Saturday if there is to be a late season twist.

He cut a frustrated figure after the loss to Altrincham on Tuesday night.

But midfielder Liam Mandeville says the team are not low on confidence heading into the live game despite just one win in four.

“The belief is still there,” he said in the club’s Friday press conference.

“There has not been a thought of it slipping away. We are all still set on promotion one way or another.

"These are the games you want to play in. Always a good atmosphere when we play Notts County and I'm sure it'll be the same on Saturday.

“They're going to be hungry for revenge and come out all guns blazing. We always seem to play better in the bigger games.”

Don’t miss the match live on BT Sport on Saturday, kick-off 3pm