Just like Wrexham, Luton and Tranmere before them, Chesterfield have found out just how unforgiving being one of the big fish in the National League can be.

Over the past year and a bit, the Spireites have had to become used to teams raising their game against them, no matter what their position in the table.

Unfortunately, their position has all too often been a lowly one and that is the case again for Barrow AFC's visit to the Proact Stadium tomorrow, as their start to the season has not gone as planned.

After rounding off last season by winning five of their last eight games, it was expected that Chesterfield would carry that momentum into this campaign and make a much stronger challenge from promotion back to the Football League at the second time of asking.

Manager John Sheridan reshaped the squad during the summer, including the additions of experienced campaigners Anthony Gerrard, David Buchanan and Jermaine McGlashan.

So far, however, these changes haven't had the desired effect, as the Spireites haven't won any of their first five games, the most recent of which saw them draw 2-2 at Barnet, with both of their goals coming from debutant Mike Fondop.

Fondop, who signed for Chesterfield after being released from Wrexham last week and scored against the Bluebirds for Maidenhead last season, is looking forward to his first home game for his new club.

He said: “It is not going to be an easy game. Fighting for three points is always like going to war. I am always thinking about one game at a time.

"I have played at the Proact before but it will be the first time in a Chesterfield shirt in front of the fans so I am looking forward to giving them my best and showing them what I can give.”

Last season's fixture at the Proact Stadium ended in a 0-0 draw in January in what was one of Sheridan's first games of his second spell in charge.