“We need to start positively”

Manager James Rowe stressed the need to “start positively” when they welcome a much-improved Aldershot Town to the Technique Stadium on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, he said: “Their form has picked right up in the last nine games. They were in a relegation dogfight, but they have seemed to come out of that a little bit.

“They still need to pick up points. You are not safe until you get to that 50-point mark in the National League. They are going to be going all out for a positive result.

“We’ve got to be aware of that and start right. We know what’s coming and it is a big challenge for us.

“I’m confident that we need to start positively, we need to be together, and we need the supporters behind the team.”

Chesterfield fell to only their second National League defeat of the season on Tuesday night after a 3-2 loss away at Maidenhead United.

Rowe wants to see his team bounce back from the disappointment and concentrate on the performances.

He said: “It’s forgotten. It’s done. We’ve reflected on it as a group on Wednesday morning. There was a lot of disappointment around the camp, which was pleasing in a way because no one likes to lose.

“We’ve just got to bounce back like we did from the Woking defeat when we went to Wrexham and performed really well. If we concentrate on the performance, the results will come.”

With January coming to a close, Rowe anticipates a few recruits coming through the door within the next ten days.

“We’ve potentially got a few that are close but I’m not going to comment on other players until they’re signed,” Rowe said.

“We know what we are looking for and we know what key players we’ve lost for the long-term that we need to replace. We need to strengthen, and we need to strengthen quickly.“

With regard to possible outgoings, the gaffer revealed that there has been a bid received for a player and that he expects a couple of players to leave on short-term loans.

Rowe stated: “There has been a bid for Saidou [Khan] but that has been rejected and also the player doesn’t want to go anywhere. He’s very happy where he is.

“I’m pleased with that because I want players that are fully on board. There’s a small group of players that we have identified yesterday that can go out on loan.

“They need game time, and we don’t want to send them out for the season. Short-term loans can be very influential and improve us when they come back.”