“We are really looking forward to the game”

The Spireites welcome Sutton United to the Technique Stadium on Tuesday night (7pm), looking to make it seven home victories on the bounce.

James Rowe knows that the league leaders present a tough challenge but hopes his side can use their own strengths to bounce back from the defeat at the weekend.

He said: “All the work has been done on Sutton yesterday. We played them quite recently, three months ago.

“They haven’t changed too much. Matt [Gray] has done a great job down there. It’s good to see a young manager like himself come in and have such success.

“He stabilised them last year and he has really kicked on with the team this year. Full credit to them to be in the position that they’re in.

“That’s all the praise I’m going to give them now because we go into battle tomorrow. We have nothing to fear.

“We have our own strengths. We want to dominate the space on the ball, which we have done in the last six home games. Can we make it seven in the league? It would be a great achievement.”

Chesterfield were defeated 2-0 by Maidenhead United at the weekend and Rowe has refused to dwell on the the defeat, acknowledging they will have to play better on Tuesday night.

“We knew what was coming and that is the most disappointing thing. Without dwelling too much, we didn’t perform to the levels that we wanted to,” Rowe said.

“But having said that, three losses in 17. It’s a blip and you must not get carried away. Just like you don’t get carried away with the wins.

“I’m expecting a reaction tomorrow. I have full confidence in the team that they will react like they did after the Stockport defeat. We are really looking forward to the game.”

Alongside Curtis Weston, who returns from suspension, Joe Rowley is pressing for a return to the line-up for the first time since January after suffering an injury against Boreham Wood.

Rowe has been impressed by Rowley’s work rate as he fought back to full fitness, saying: “He’s upped it to 100% over the past few days, before Saturday.

“He’s worked on other parts of his game and other parts of his development since he’s been out injured.

“He also did some extra stuff and travelled down with the group on Saturday. He comes into the reckoning for tomorrow.”