Spireites gaffer: '˜There's not a lot between us and Sheffield United'

Danny Wilson is adamant that there's not a lot between his Chesterfield side and the high flying Blades.
Picture by Gareth Williams/AHPIX.com. Football, Sky Bet League One; 
Coventry City v Chesterfield; 01/11/2016 KO 7.45pm;  
Ricoh Arena;
copyright picture;Howard Roe/AHPIX.com
Spirites boss Danny Wilson ahead of kick-off at CoventryPicture by Gareth Williams/AHPIX.com. Football, Sky Bet League One; 
Coventry City v Chesterfield; 01/11/2016 KO 7.45pm;  
Ricoh Arena;
copyright picture;Howard Roe/AHPIX.com
Spirites boss Danny Wilson ahead of kick-off at Coventry
Picture by Gareth Williams/AHPIX.com. Football, Sky Bet League One; Coventry City v Chesterfield; 01/11/2016 KO 7.45pm; Ricoh Arena; copyright picture;Howard Roe/AHPIX.com Spirites boss Danny Wilson ahead of kick-off at Coventry

Fourth placed Sheffield United visit second from bottom Town on Sunday at the Proact with a 16-point lead over their hosts, and a game in hand.

But Wilson, as he has done on numerous occasions this season, reiterated his believe that very little separates his best XI from that of the leading lights in League One.

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Addressing the big derby game the former Blades boss said: “Should we get a positive result it will help us enormously, with a boost for the fans and a big boost for us psychologically. We’ve got a lot to gain from this game.

“Sheffield United with the run they’re on, they’ve got some good players, Tufty has done brilliant there, getting the team and the fans together which is always a good recipe.

“But as teams go, there’s not a lot in it. If we can put our strongest side out we know we’ll give them a game and that’s what we intend to do.

“They’re brimming with confidence. It’s going to be a tough tie for us.

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“It won’t be through a lack of ability if we don’t win the game.

“They’re beatable just like any other side in this division.”

Wilson acknowledged that if Chesterfield are to have a chance of upsetting the in-form Blades, unbeaten in 11 league outings, every single one of his players must perform.

“We’ll all have to be at our vest best individually and collectively, we can’t have nine players performing and two not performing. We’ll need to be at full tilt.

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“If we are at our level best, performing like we know we can then I think they might have to do the same.

“It’s a big one for the fans, I know it is. But we look it as a big, big challenge.”

Wilson has had no good news from the medical room this week, meaning it’s a similar squad available to him – although Liam Graham is on international duty with New Zealand.

And in a big blow to the Spireites’ back line, Sam Hird has been confirmed as a hernia victim and will miss at least a couple of weeks.

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Confidence is back up again at the Proact however, following wins in the FA Cup and Checkatrade Trophy this week.

And Jay O’Shea’s strike at Colchester ended the club’s well publicised goal drought.

“The last couple of games they’ve added a bit of confidence and a couple of goals as well.

“Any defeat is going to test you and when you have a stretch without goals it is a conundrum rather than a frustration. With the quality we have in the side we asked how can we not be scoring goals?

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“We were creating chances in most games. The disappointment was that we weren’t finding the net and we were putting pressure back on the defence.

“It’s been difficult but the lads never lost faith.

“They put some very strong performances in and I was always of the belief we would turn the corner and I hope we can turn the corner in the league.”

Sunday is another chance for Wilson to renew his acquaintances with a former club, one that sacked him in April 2013 – a decision the 56-year-old still can’t understand.

“I enjoyed my time there, it was a fantastic club, a big club,” he said, reflecting on his two-year stint in charge at Bramall Lane.

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“I think the fans were brilliant with me, even though when I first went there it raised a few eyebrows.

“A load of the gripes were a load of untruths but I think overall we had a good relationship as we went along.

“I think the fans enjoyed a lot of the football we played. We were unlucky at times but that’s football. The time I had there I wouldn’t replace it, I really enjoyed it.

“He (Kevin McCabe, who sacked Wilson) was wrong to do it. Does it rankle with me? No I get on with it, I’m enjoying my time here. Do I understand it? No, but that’s history, it’s gone. I don’t look back, it happened but we move forward.”