Kenny Lunt has told the club’s official web-site that it has helped having a fairly settled starting XI this season. but the assistant manager says the competition for places remains fierce.

The Alex have been without George Ray and James Jones for the start of the season due to injury and we have recently lost the on-loan Conor Grant because of concussion. There have been one or two knocks along the way and of course Perry Ng had to serve a one-match suspension following his red card against Newport County.

Lunt told the club’s official web-site: “We unfortunately lost Tommy (Lowery) for the Grimsby game due to a small injury and that happens. It is always nice to be able to keep the team together most weeks.

“Chelsea had that last season and won the league, so it is helpful but football is more of a squad game now and you will need them.

“The competition is good and the players know that if they do not play to the standard then there is someone waiting for their chance.

“We will watch the positives from the Chesterfield game but also go over the negatives and try to learn from that.”