Match Preview: Accrington Stanley (h)

The second of three consecutive matches at the SMH Group Stadium sees the Spireites take on Accrington Stanley in a Sky Bet League Two clash.

With Chesterfield still unbeaten at home, Accrington visit after a lacklustre start to their season, which sees them lie 20th in the table with just three wins.

Despite this, they have picked up ten points out of a possible 15 in their last five league games, providing hope that they can push up the table and look for a return to the third tier after relegation in the 2022/23 campaign.

Head-to-head

It has been over a decade since the Spireites were last victorious over Stanley, taking a 1-0 home win thanks to a Tendayi Darikwa goal during Paul Cook’s first spell at the club.

Accrington have won the four matches since then, scoring a total of 13 goals to Chesterfield’s three, with the last fixture ending 4-0 in early 2018.

Cook also managed a Chesterfield v Accrington fixture in the opponents’ dug-out, which culminated in a 4-3 win for the Spireites.

The Spireites’ manager holds a fairly even record against his former club, winning four, losing five and drawing once.

His last victory over the Lancashire outfit came in the 2016/17 League Two campaign when Matt Clarke and Kal Naismith were on the scoresheet for Pompey in a 2-0 win.

John Doolan

Spending time with Accrington as a player, Doolan was appointed manager at the Wham Stadium towards the end of last season, guiding Stanley to a 17th placed finish.

It is his first job in football management, but he has been amongst the first team staff at the club since 2017, coaching the side who left the fourth tier as champions during his first season.

With his history at the club, Doolan will be optimistic that he can once again play an important part in taking the club up to League One.

Player-in-focus

Dara Costelloe has been Stanley’s brightest spark so far this season, netting four league goals including a last-gasp winner away at Gillingham in early October.

The 21-year-old also found the back of the net in the two games before, including both of his side’s goals in their 2-1 win over struggling Morecambe.

After joining Burnley’s youth ranks in 2021, Costelloe will be eager to impress during his fourth loan spell away from Turf Moor.