Chesterfield boss John Pemberton on home form, no fans and Hartlepool United

Before the pandemic the Spireites had only lost one of their last six games at the Technique Stadium.

And their only loss was in the last minute against eventual play-off winners Harrogate Town.

Pemberton said: “We want to be good at home, we were good at home last year, our form showed that and we did pick up away from home. We want to be competitive this season and if you can get your home form right then you have got a massive platform in which to build when going away.”

Unfortunately no supporters will be allowed in the ground tonight due to the current Covid-19 regulations.

There have been some bonkers results across all divisions - most notably at the weekend in the Premier League - and Pemberton is unsure whether having no fans will help or hinder his team in the same way.

“I honestly don’t know until we get going,” he added. “I would rather have the supporters because there is then a good atmosphere. When we have got a good atmosphere here we are a different team. It could work for or against us.”

Hartlepool were ninth and just three points off the play-offs when last season was curtailed and the Blues boss expects them to be up there again this campaign.

They got off to a winning start with 2-1 home victory against Aldershot Town on Saturday.

“They had a good win at the weekend,” Pemberton added. “They have got good players. They have got a lot of pace in their team. They play some good football. We have done our work on them. We know what their strengths are, we hopefully know what their weaknesses are.

“I think they will definitely be in and around it. I am hoping we will be one of them as well. I think you see some of the results that are being thrown up at the minute and it is all the way down. You look at the budget that Stockport has spent through the summer and they get beat at the weekend. We just want to be in and around the mix of it and hopefully we will be.”