Gary Roberts spoke to the media on Friday morning, ahead of the Sky Bet League Two clash with Accrington Stanley on Saturday afternoon.
Roberts started by looking ahead to the fixture, saying: “It’s going to be a real physical game. I think they’re at the top of every stats list for pressure regains, regains in opposition’s half, they’re a real pressing, aggressive team.
“They’re young, hungry, and as well as the hunger and desire they have, they’re a well-coached team. They’re drilled as a team, they know what they’re doing, and they’ve beat some good teams.”
Reflecting on the 1-0 FA Cup victory over Stevenage. Roberts said: “The confidence has been building. We were going into Stevenage quietly confident, from the previous performances against Salford, Fleetwood and Tranmere, where we felt we should have won the game.
“Coming out of Stevenage, you can imagine, to beat a team from the top end of the league above, the spirits are really high. In the second round, you’ve got a great local derby as well in Doncaster Rovers at home, really good, firstly to test yourself against League One opposition again.”
Roberts then provided an injury update on Ryan Stirk, who missed out at Stevenage, saying: “He won’t be with us for a couple of weeks now, he’s nicked his quad.
“It’s a blow for the team, a blow for the club, as he really started his career unbelievably well at Chesterfield. He will be missed, but hopefully it’s not too long.
“I think John Fleck was outstanding on Saturday when he came in to play 90 minutes after having a good few weeks without minutes. I thought he was brilliant for us.”
Other injuries that Roberts addressed were those affecting Luke Butterfield and Gunner Elliott, adding: “[Butterfield] has missed a lot of football, and he was just so unlucky with his injury, but he’s on the grass, he’s with Elliot now, he’s working hard, we just can’t chuck him in too soon.”
