The Debrief: Chester win over Macclesfield more important that it may seem
The Blues bounce back to winning ways with a 2-0 success over Cheshire rivals
This felt important.
The loss to a title-chasing South Shields on December 20 could be explained away, but the manner of the 3-1 reverse to AFC Telford United on Boxing Day stung, and with just four days between the two games, sentiment seemed low heading into a clash with Cheshire rivals Macclesfield.
The nature of the struggles at the start of the season saw pressure placed on the shoulders of Chester boss Calum McIntyre. It wasn’t for the first time in his time as Blues manager, but it felt like we were sailing into dangerous waters. The run of seven unbeaten, and improved performances, helped calm those waters.
But it doesn’t take long in football for sentiment to shift, and any football manager is only really buying time with each positive result. It doesn’t matter the stature, what has been achieved and the credit in the bank, it dwindles fast if the results go south.
Losing back-to-back games happens. It is all part of the bumpy road of a football season. But three defeats in a row starts to change the narrative, it becomes something more, something that can signal the beginning of the end. It can eat away at the good graces of fans of even a sunnier disposition.
