Press conference round-up: No rest day for Spireites, Charlton's issues, McGinn's freak injury

The pair revealed that it had been a long, hard week of graft on the training pitch after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Scunthorpe.

The manager said it was back to basics for his players, while Liddle voiced the squad’s determination to put right their wretched run of results.

Both men touched on the Addicks’ off-field issues and fan protests, and how that might play into Chesterfield’s hands should they perform well themselves.

And Wilson gave an insight into Paul McGinn’s freak injury.

Here are the highlights...

Training

Wilson: “The key priority is to get back to basics, we’ve peeled everything back in terms of training and analysis, just to do the basic things properly and more consistently.

“That’s what we’ve done all week, we’ve worked hard, the lads have been very receptive to what we want to do and hopefully we get a response at the weekend.

“It’s been very intense and it’s been very repetitive. It has put a lot of things back in the minds of the players.”

Liddle: “We’re determined to put it right. We’ve had a good week on the training ground, we’ve put in a lot of work on the grass with no time off, which is unusual for a normal week.

“Hopefully it will pay dividends this weekend.”

Charlton’s off field issues

Wilson: “Let’s hope we can put something negative in their fans’ minds and they’ll take it out on whoever they feel they should take it out on. It’s not nice for players sometimes in that environment but we’ve got to try and make it a positive for us.

“We’ll do everything we possibly can to take advantage.”

Liddle: “I’m sure everyone has heard about the off-field problems and it’s important we go and stamp our authority on the game.

“We’ve said it in the build up, it’s important we don’t let them get up a head of steam.

“It could be a weapon for us, trying to capitalise (on the off field discontent.)

The Addicks on the field

Wilson: “They were one of my sides to go through the league, they’ve a lot of quality in the squad. It’s a transitional period from their point of view.

“They’re very difficult to beat, we’ll have to be aware of what they’re capable of.

“But there’s nothing between us on them, it’s on the day who gets a performance and takes their chances.

“On the day if you perform well you’ve got a chance to win the game, you’re not against teams who are miles ahead of you in terms of quality.”

Liddle: “They’re one of the bigger clubs in the division with a nice stadium, a massive wage budget, I suspect a lot higher than ours or most of the division’s. They’re going through their own difficult spell at the moment.

“They’ll try and get the ball forward quickly and create chances off that. A lot of teams are pretty similar in this division. Too many times this season we’ve gone to places and let teams come onto us so it’s important we show what we can do.”

The injury crisis

Wilson: “We forecast at the beginning of the season that this could be a possibility, and unfortunately it’s bit us hard.

“It’s been too many injuries, it’s very hard for us but we just get on with it.

“We’ve got a bunch of players who care more than capable of getting a result on Saturday.

“We were very positive at the start of the season and had some very, very good performances. It’s in the locker.

“With all due respect to what we’ll play on Saturday it’s maybe not our strongest side, but opportunities always arise and hopefully they’ll take it.”

Paul McGinn

Wilson: “He played a bit of the game and damaged his hamstring again, someone grabbed his foot and as he tried to yank it away his hamstring has gone, it’s a freak one.”

The fans

Liddle: “I’ve no doubt we’ll take another good group to Charlton. Stick in there with us, good times will come.

“When you’ve gone a certain stretch and not got three points there’s going to be a little bit of discontent.

“The fans have been great this season following us away and supporting us fantastically at home.

“I will ask that they stick with us, we’re as disappoint as they are and determined to rectify the run as quickly as possible.”

Poor run of results

Wilson: “There’s a frustration. It’s a young side, we’ve got to take a bit of pain and we’ve got to be prepared for it.

“But we’ll get through it, by believing and keeping down what we know is right, and we’ll turn the corner. I’ve no doubt about it.”