After picking up 13 points out of a possible 15 in the last five games, the Spireites are back at the SMH Group Stadium this evening.
They entertain a struggling Carlisle United side who are in desperate need of points to try and retain their Football League status and avoid returning to the National League for the first time since 2005.
Mark Hughes’ men travel to North Derbyshire off the back of a 3-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, a result that leaves them nine points from safety at the foot of the League Two standings.
Head-to-head
A 2-0 away win over the Cumbrians back in December saw Will Grigg’s last goal for Chesterfield before worsening an injury in the following match, an issue he has only just overcome.
The victory was the first time the Spireites had got the better of Carlisle since the 2011/12 League One season, when a Leon Clarke hat-trick led to a 4-1 win for Chesterfield.
Paul Cook has never suffered a league defeat against Carlisle. His last win, prior to December, came during his time at Portsmouth. Gary Roberts was on the scoresheet as Pompey ran out 3-0 winners at Brunton Park during the 2016/17 League Two season.
Mark Hughes
Following a prolific playing career, Mark Hughes first went into management with Wales in the late nineties and early noughties, before enjoying long spells in charge of the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Stoke City.
More recently, he was in charge of Bradford City for 82 games before his dismissal early on last season.
Player-in-focus
Goals have been hard to come by for the Cumbrians, who have only netted 30 times all season.
Their biggest threat has been Sam Levelle, who leads their goalscoring charts with four, missing just three league games all season.
Without a goal since early February, he will be eager to return to the scoresheet and try to propel his side to a great escape.
Tickets for tonight’s game are available here.
