by Steve Shaw

SKIPPER Tommy Fraser has billed tonight's "cup final" clash against Chesterfield as one of Port Vale's biggest games of the season.

While Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Burton ended Vale's six-match unbeaten run, it also dented their play-off chances.

The defeat dropped them two places to 14th in League Two, leaving Vale eight points adrift of the play-off zone and seventh-placed Chesterfield.

It is therefore vital, according to Fraser, that his team hit back immediately.

He explained: "It was an unbeaten run that had to come to an end at some point – we weren't going to go the rest of the season unbeaten.

"But it's how you pick yourself up from these set-backs that's crucial, and tonight gives us the best chance to do that straight away.

"If we do win, and also at Torquay on Saturday, that's good because taking six points from nine would not be too bad.

"So tonight is massive because if we win we will be five points behind Chesterfield with a game in hand, but if we lose we'll trail them by 11 points. That would be a hard deficit to make up with 18 games left.

"It's one of the biggest games of the season as far as I'm concerned – it's like FA Cup final day in the league, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Vale can take heart from the fact Chesterfield have only won three of their 13 league matches away from Saltergate this season, a record which includes eight defeats.

In the Spireites' last away game, at Morecambe on January 30, manager John Sheridan switched from his favoured 4-4-2 formation to a 5-3-2 system and saw his team win 1-0.

But he reverted back to a 4-4-2 on Saturday when his side secured back-to-back wins with a 2-1 home success over Lincoln City.

Midfielder Dominic Green, on loan from Peterborough, scored with a 25-yard strike, while former Grimsby Town striker Barry Conlon netted his seventh goal of the campaign.

Conlon also scored Grimsby's consolation goal in Vale's 2-1 victory at Blundell Park on December 28.

Chesterfield's talismanic figure, Jack Lester, is sidelined by a knee injury, but fellow striker Drew Talbot has recovered from an ankle complaint and could return.

Vale enjoy a clean bill of health, while they also welcome Lewis Haldane back from a one-match suspension. He is likely to earn an instant recall on the flank.

Geoff Horsfield, Vale's assistant-boss, said: "Chesterfield are quick and they've got strong wingers.

"They've got Green on loan who scored a good goal on Saturday, cutting inside on to his left foot.

"He's looks like a good player and Conlon caused us massive problems at Grimsby, so we've got to be aware of him.

"With Martin Gritton up there as well, they're a big solid unit up front. But if our back four play the way they have been we'll keep it tight."