Keith Alexander is hoping that Wednesday night's Totesport.com league win over near neighbours Port Vale will be just the fillip the team needs ahead of Saturday's encounter with Chesterfield.
The Silkmen head to Saltergate looking to build on the draw against Barnet at the Moss Rose last time out, and the gaffer certainly has some food for thought after the last night's game.
"First and foremost it's great to win, and to win so comprehensively," explained Keith. "Winning breeds confidence and that can only be a good thing. But perhaps more importantly it was a chance to give some of the lads who haven't been featuring a run out."
"In today's climate a lot of clubs have chosen not to go with a reserve team. I can understand that but for me I think it's a vital thing to have. That's why I was so keen to re-introduce the team when I arrived at the club."
"I know reserve team results last season weren't the best but you can't underestimate the benefit of just getting some competitive action."
"Last night was a great example. Shaun Brisley popped up with a goal as did Ben Wright, Emile and Kris Dennis. Ben is coming back from injury and has been unlucky not to have scored so far this season. So hopefully he can take something from last night's game."
"The same can be said of Emile. He's had a few chances for the first team which he hasn't been able to convert. He scored a good goal last night so hopefully again he can take a lot from that and the next time a chance comes he'll find the back of the net."
"The only disappointment about last night was I wanted to give Nat Brown another run out. He needs games as he missed out on pre-season and his fitness level is understandably below what we would want. But the injury he had is not something you can take too many risks with. So we decided it was best to rest him and work him hard in training instead."
"He's a big player for us and I am confident he'll get stronger as the weeks go by. He's certainly in my plans for the trip to Chesterfield on Saturday."
The Spireites have had a mixed start to their season but that, and the fact the Silkmen enjoyed one of their best away displays last season at Saltergate, hold no sway for Alexander who still believes it will be a tough place to go.
"People tell me they've not won any of their last four league games," explained Keith. "But I don't really care what they've been up to. Of course they'll be looking to bring that run to an end but they'd be looking to win the game if they were unbeaten in four. So it doesn't matter really. All I know is that we got a good point against Barnet last Saturday and that is something for us to build on. We've done ok on the road this season, losing just the once at Crewe and it's up to us to go there and compete."
"We did that last year but ironically I felt the game at Saltergate was the turning point of the season. Indirectly it led to Chesterfield putting in a bid for Martin Gritton. It was too good an offer to turn down, and one I would take again today."
"I felt we had the strength in depth up front. But looking back we missed him more than I thought we would. Our season never really got going after that."
"But that's all water under the bridge now. Hopefully if we can get a similar results this weekend it will also prove a turning point. By and large we've been doing okay this season in terms of performance levels but the results just have not been coming."
"You don't need me to tell you that we're all disappointed with our haul of six points from seven games. But if you look at the current league table, we've come up against four of the top six teams already. So its been a tough start. But we recognise that we can't keep pointing to that and the best antidote is to go to Chesterfield on Saturday and pick up three points."
