After last weekend’s fixture against Colchester United was postponed, Chesterfield are set to welcome Bromley to the SMH Group Stadium for a 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
First-team coach Gary Roberts spoke to the media ahead of the match, and began by praising Lee Bonis who has picked up both the PFA and Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month awards.
“Personal awards are always great, especially for a striker,” he said. “He got four goals in five games (in the league) so fair play to Lee, he’s come through a really good spell of goals to help the team and we’re really pleased for him.
“He got a little ripple off the lads in training the other day, so we have had the recognition of the players and we’re more than pleased with him. Hopefully more to come.
“He’s carried the can a little bit on his own for a while. He’s the youngest of our strikers and he took a lot of responsibility on his shoulders of leading the line.”
Roberts then discussed new signing Tom Pearce: “Tom is a real athlete, real good size, really quick, one of the best left-footers I’ve played with when I was at Wigan. (His) set-pieces are really good, he can nick a goal and he fits into our system really well.
“We lost Lewis Gordon, which was a blow, and with Adam Lewis just alone, we needed to act quick and the timing of it was perfect for us. Tom had been in the MLS, we know what type of character he is. He’s never played at this level, he’s always played higher, so it was a perfect fit and a perfect timing for us to bring him in.”
Focusing on the clash with Sky Bet League Two leaders Bromley, he added: “They’ve been on an unbelievable run. Not surprised by it. They’ve improved every season, we’ve come through with them and always had good ding-dong games.
“Andy Woodman; I don’t think he gets enough credit by the way, he’s done an absolute smashing job, he improves them every single year.
“They’ve got themselves to the top of the league by no fluke at all, they’re on a terrific run. They have a system in the way they play and they just look so comfortable and solid.
“We always have good games with them. You’ve seen some thrillers here, they’ve beat us down there, we’ve beat them here, it’s always been a good game, but as I say, the respect between two clubs – and I think Andy will say the same – is huge, because we’ve come through with them.
“We’re looking forward to another ding-dong, because we both go at it, we give our all, and hopefully we come out on the better side of it.”
Tickets for the fixture can be bought here.
