Manager Paul Cook sat down with the media on Thursday morning to preview the Spireites’ play-off second leg against Notts County at Meadow Lane on Friday evening, with a place at Wembley at stake.
Firstly, Cook provided his final take on the weekend’s first leg, saying: “Sunday’s game was probably a disappointment in relation to the actual game. Obviously, we’ve missed a penalty which hasn’t helped, but the game was a little bit of a non-event really.
“There were no real chances in it on the day, apart from the goal. I’m not so sure they had anything. Both teams will look at it and think, ‘What can we do better?’ Analysts are very prominent at every football club; it’s like chess, they know your next move.”
Looking ahead to Friday evening’s clash, Cook added: “I’m just looking forward to the game. Football will always come down to players, without a shadow of a doubt. Tactics are important, but the big moments in the game will be decided by players, and both teams have good players.
“We’ll go there to win the game, as we’ll always do. And for us, we’ve been there before, and we’ve won there before. Like I always say, the best indicator of the future is the past. If we’ve scored goals there, we can score again.”
After being forced off in the first leg, Cook provided an update on Armando Dobra’s fitness, explaining: “Unfortunately, he won’t make it. He’s got a nasty injury; he’ll probably be out for the best part of three months.
“It’s a big disappointment for us. He’s such an influential player, he’s such an influential character at our football club, and he’s a great lad.”
