John Rooney is hoping form won't count for anything in play-off showdown
Macclesfield boss speaks ahead of eliminator showdown with Chester tonight
Chester have already done the double over Macclesfield in the National League North this season. If they want to set up a play-off semi-final on Saturday, they’ll need to do the treble.
A 0-0 draw at home to King’s Lynn Town on Saturday was enough for the Blues to take seventh spot in the division, and set up a trip this evening (7.45pm kick off) to Moss Rose to take on the Silkmen, who had the benefit of knowing where they would finish in the division before the final day.
Managed by former Chester player John Rooney, Macclesfield were defeated 1-0 at Radcliffe on the final day, but it was a game where the Silkmen chose to rest some bodies ahead of an eliminator test where they didn’t know the opponent until the very last kick of the season.
For Chester, 2-0 winners at home to Macclesfield in December, and 2-0 winners away at Moss Rose on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, where goals from Dylan Mottley-Henry and Jack Bainbridge sealed the three points, they have been able to get the best of the opposition this evening.
But these are the play-offs. There is the notion that form goes out of the window, although one could challenge that idea by looking at the teams who have won promotion over the past seven years from the National League North, where those who have finished the season the strongest have historically done well and gone all the way.
In terms of the form guide, over the past 10 games of interim manager Connell Rawlinson’s tenure, the Blues have the second best form, a record of seven wins, two draws and a defeat, with a points haul of 23. Only Buxton, winners in their eliminator at home to Scarborough Athletic on Tuesday evening, have done better, with 25 points accumulated.
Macclesfield have a record of six wins and four defeats over the same period. Quite which Silkmen side turns up has been something of an unknown, but Rooney, who made 128 appearances in all competitions for Chester before committing the sin of leaving to join Wrexham, is in the camp of form meaning little.
Speaking to Silkmen TV, Rooney said: “I can’t wait, it’s a massive game, we’ve had quite a few big games this season but as we’ve touched on, your next game is your biggest one and it’s a game I’m really looking forward to.
“I think it’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere again. It’s one the players are looking forward to as well.
“But we’re fully prepared, you know what it’s going to take to get the job done, so another game we’re really looking forward to.
“For the playoffs we was (sic) always in a sticky situation where we knew where we’d finish in the league table and then you’ve got players who were on a certain amount of yellow cards and if we got another one we’d lose them for the playoffs so we’d have to look after that, and then you’re into players not wanting to get injured and all that.
“I think it’s a game we’re massively looking forward to and I’m sure Chester are as
well, so yeah form I think once you go into the playoffs your form can go out the window.
While he may have been able to get the better of Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace in the FA Cup earlier this season, getting one over Chester has proven to be a more challenging nut to crack.
The Blues defeated Macclesfield on a chilly December evening at the Deva Stadium just before the Silkmen went on to record one of the most famous giant killings in FA Cup history.
The 2-0 win at Moss Rose earlier this month was a thoroughly professional affair, where the Blues dug deep to see out the game in front of a vocal away support.
Said Rooney: “I think we played Chester just before we won on our run after Christmas and you know we wasn’t at the races then and you know we’ve played them a couple weeks ago here as well.
“I didn’t think we was at the races and thought it was probably a game of two halves we thought we were probably the better team second half I think they was the better team first half and this one we lost the game there was no excuses after the game I think they probably did deserve the win but listen tomorrow’s a total different game that’ll give our lads that little bit more to go on to go and put them performances right.”
Chester are without Jack Bainbridge for the trip to Moss Rose this evening, while Hayden Carson is highly doubtful after coming off injured in the first half of the King’s Lynn Town draw at the weekend. Connor Woods could come in at right wing back.