PHIL Parkinson is delighted to see Lee Evans back on the goal trail in time for the play-offs.

The Welshman's winner at Southend was his third of the season – and first since netting against Walsall in November.

But Evans has been getting closer over recent matches and Parkinson reckons the on-loan midfielder has got his eye in going into the promotion run-in.

"It's important that midfield players chip in with goals and Evo's got a good ratio of hitting the target in recent games," said the City chief.

"You could sense a goal was coming and I was pleased for him. It was an important one for us down there.

"I've been saying for weeks that in these periods you need people to step up to the plate and he's done that.

"Evo's a good technician and a great striker of the ball with both feet. With his technique, we expect him to have a few attempts and work the keeper.

"Going back for quite a while, he has had some tremendous efforts on goal and the keeper has pulled off some very good saves.

"There was the point-blank one against Walsall, then the shot which rebounded to Fil (Morais) who nearly put it in and the free-kick saved at Coventry.

"You work on the ratio that if you hit the target with five attempts, normally one will be a goal.

"Evo keeps working hard getting in those positions to shoot and he knows that sooner or later he's going to score."

James Hanson will be assessed before Chesterfield's visit on Sunday after taking a whack on the calf and Parkinson insists it is business as usual ahead of the final league game.

He said: "The lads are just focused. We aren't getting carried away. We're happy to be in the play-offs and to have got it done already and now we're looking forward to this weekend.

"We're just having a normal (training) week building up to the game. The early kick-off on Sunday will help get us used to the play-offs, when we could be playing at different times.

"We've got an overall aim for the season and we are on course to achieve it. Only part of the job has been done and, starting with this Sunday, we want to continue to play well and hopefully that will take us where we want to go."

While City are assured of a top-six finish, a win over the Spireites would lift them a place to fourth if Millwall fail to beat Gillingham. That would ensure the second leg of the play-off semi-final would be at Valley Parade.

Hanson said: "We want to finish as high as possible so that we have the home advantage. That's the incentive for us. The place was bouncing after the last home game and we want to keep that going."

But Parkinson has missed out on being named League One manager of the month for April.

The award went to Graham Alexander, whose Scunthorpe team have won five games in a row to move within goal difference of a play-off place since their 1-0 defeat at Valley Parade.