After securing a last-gasp win at Eastleigh last weekend, the Spireites return to the Technique Stadium to face fellow promotion hopefuls Dagenham & Redbridge.
The Daggers currently find themselves three points adrift of the play-off spaces, although they have played more fixtures than those around them.
Key Facts
Founded: 1992
Manager: Daryl McMahon
Nickname: Daggers
Stadium (Capacity): Victoria Road (6,000)
One of the youngest clubs in the Vanarama National League, the Daggers have been able to provide their fans with some rich moments in their 30-year history despite being significantly younger than their National League rivals. Climbing into the promise land of England’s Football League in 2007, Dagenham would go from the regional leagues of Central London, to the fourth tier of English football within 15 years of existence.
Their time in the Football League would end ten years later after facing a return to the fifth -ier in 2017. In their first season back in the National League, Dagenham could only manage a fourth placed finish, missing out on the opportunity to return back to England’s professional leagues.
Five years on and the Daggers remain in the National League. Stumbling down the pecking order, the club finished the 2019/20 campaign in 18th place, before being disrupted by COVID-19. However, the resulting seasons have provided a brighter picture with last season seeing the Daggers finish in mid-table before the outside promotion hunt that presents itself for this season.
League Statistics
| Club | League Position | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Conceded | Points |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 9th | 13 | 3 | 10 | 48 | 35 | 42 |
Outside the play-off places, the Daggers have won three of their last six outings. Earning nine points from a possible 15, as a result, McMahon’s men have continued their bid for a late berth into the play-offs.
Looking back to the beginning of the campaign, the club started the season in stellar form by winning five of their six opening outings. Only a 2-2 draw at home to Wealdstone stopped them from earning the maximum points before eventually losing their unbeaten streak whilst on the road to Wrexham.
Defeat to Wrexham almost instantaneously started a woeful trend for the London outfit. Ignoring the 5-1 triumphant home victory over Solihull Moors, the Daggers would go on to lose all of their next three games. Starting with a 3-2 loss to Altrincham, before narrowly suffering defeats to Woking and high-flying Boreham Wood. Their decline was furious and far from gracious as defeat to FC Halifax Town soon followed after grabbing the only three points in the month of October whilst hosting Southend United.
One win in October would soon be mirrored with a single victory in November. After a rampant start to the campaign, the Daggers began to suffer continuous blows in the following months. A 4-1 away win to Maidenhead United became something of a rarity during a run of seven fixtures. During this period, Dagenham would also bow out of the FA Cup, with a 1-0 home loss to Salford United – who themselves would face the exit door in the following round after losing to the Spireites.
Head-to-Head Record
| Home Side | Record | Away Side |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2-2 (30th October 2021) | Chesterfield FC |
| Chesterfield FC | 2-1 (22nd May 2021) | Dagenham & Redbridge |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2-2 (30th January 2021) | Chesterfield FC |
| Chesterfield FC | 1-1 (31st August 2019) | Dagenham & Redbridge |
| Chesterfield FC | 2-0 (30th March 2019) | Dagenham & Redbridge |
Locking heads earlier this season, the two sides were both left unsatisfied after recording a 2-2 stalemate. In a game where the Daggers went 2-0 up within the first 25 minutes, Angelo Balanta opened the scoring before George Saunders doubled the home side’s lead. Inspired in the second half, Chesterfield would bounce back as Jamie Grimes led the charge before talisman Kabongo Tshimanga levelled the game, with only two minutes separating the goals for Chesterfield.
Beyond the meeting this season, draws have been something of a pattern between these two with a winner only being declared on two of the last five clashes.
Chesterfield have won both of those meetings, with Dagenham in search of a rare three points against the second-placed Spireites. This makes the weekend visit even more interesting, with the Spireites aiming for a second win under Danny Webb whilst the Daggers aim for a rare win against a club who have been bitter opponents for them in years gone by.
By Sam Plummer
