Tim Akinola is impressing for Chesterfield at the moment, despite a clear dip in form for the National League side.

There’s no doubt that Chesterfield FC are in the midst of their worst period of form of the season so far, losing four league games in a row for the first time all campaign.

Less than a month ago, the side were heavily tipped for promotion, but things have started to fall apart in recent matches.

Yet on a personal basis, things are actually looking pretty good for Arsenal loanee Tim Akinola.

The midfielder took a while to break into the Chesterfield team, but he’s been getting more starts lately, and he’s been earning plaudits whether he starts or not.

After playing just 23 minutes of Chesterfield’s game against Woking on Tuesday, Akinola was voted in second place for the Fans’ Man of the Match award.

The 21-year-old then got a start on Saturday, and this time he took first place in the Man of the Match vote.

Given Chesterfield’s form, you might expect some animosity towards the players, but the replies from their fans to the Man of the Match decision were very positive about Akinola.

• @LSpireites: “18 league games left. Would be great to see Timmy start most of them – great player who improves us all over the pitch.”
• @saltergate1: “Should have had way more minutes – expect him to start every game now”
• @Danfearn14: “Needs to start more makes a huge difference”
• @LindsayDownes: “Well deserved”

In fairness to Chesterfield, their recent run of results has involved playing against three of the four teams currently above them in the table, with the other defeat coming to a seventh-place Boreham Wood side away from home.

It’s been a tricky run of fixtures, and they’ll now look to bounce back against 13th-place Aldershot Town.

Akinola may have done enough to make consecutive league starts for the first time this season.