Chesterfield's current League Two form sees them in seventh place with 15 points after ten matches. The Spireites' start to the 2026/27 campaign has been a mix of sparkling home wins and frustrating away results, leaving them in the slipstream of the automatic promotion places.
Paul Cook's side have shown both promise and profligacy. They sit four points behind leaders Salford City, a gap that could have been smaller. Cook himself has pointed to seven 'get-able' points that have slipped away this season, which would have been enough for top spot. The most recent example was letting a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw at Crawley Town on 10 October.
Squad developments and contributions
The arrival of loan signings Louie Marsh and Joel Randall within a week of each other has provided a clear boost. Between them, the pair have contributed seven goals so far, adding key firepower. Dilan Markanday operates as a defence-splitter on the right, while Lee Bonis provides a continual threat. Bonis is the club's top scorer this season with 13 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions. The midfield legs of McEachran and Stirk, alongside the attacking thrust from players like Remeao Hutton, give Cook options. The manager has said he has a better feeling about this group than the one he had last season.
Manager's perspective
Cook has addressed growing impatience among some supporters head-on. "I just don’t know where a lot of our supporters’ bad energy is coming from," he said. "Let’s have a little bit of reality check about where we are." He believes the squad's early-season jigsaw is now coming together, with partnerships and the mechanics of their passing game improving after an uncomfortable opening month. Cook stressed that 'teams with a soft underbelly don’t win promotions,’ indicating his focus on building resilience.
The underlying numbers show a team that creates chances but has been punished at the other end. They have scored 17 goals but conceded 14, keeping just two clean sheets in the opening ten league games. Highlights include a 4-2 win over Tranmere and a 5-3 victory against Manchester City U21s in the EFL Trophy, but these are offset by a defeat at Cheltenham and blanks against Fleetwood.
Fan reaction on social media has mirrored this inconsistency, with one supporter groaning, 'Typical Town. Something of a Chesterfield reality.' Yet the current points tally of 15 is one more than at the same stage in the 2024/25 season, though three less than in 2023/24. Both those campaigns ended in play-off finishes, offering a benchmark. Chesterfield now prepare for a trip to face Port Vale, who sit 22nd, on 17 October. The last meeting between the sides ended in a 1-1 draw at the Technique Stadium in September. Their next fixture is a home match against Accrington Stanley on 21 October.
This story first appeared at Derbyshire Times
