The busy festive schedule is set to begin this weekend as the Spireites take on AFC Wimbledon at the SMH Group Stadium, with both sides in decent form towards the top end of the table.
The Dons currently sit fourth, just outside the automatic promotion spots, with a game in hand on four of the top seven, including the Spireites.
Despite pitch troubles earlier in the season, Wimbledon have leaped over any hurdles they have faced and picked up wins on a consistent basis to leave them with high hopes of a return to League One after relegation in the 2021/22 season.
Head-to-head
The Spireites have faced the Dons seven times sincr they reformed, taking three wins, two draws and two losses.
The last meeting between the sides came in late November 2022, as the Spireites ran away 2-0 winners in an away FA Cup second round tie, setting up a home encounter with West Bromwich Albion.
Armando Dobra and Jeff King were on the scoresheet that day and the former will be hopeful of continuing his good form with another goal this weekend after netting against Tranmere and Wigan in the last two home matches.
The FA Cup win was Paul Cook’s most recent of his 13 matches against the Dons, a side he has only been defeated by once during his time as a manager.
The defeat came within the timeframe of the pandemic, when Cook’s Ipswich Town side were defeated 3-0 in a Sky Bet League One fixture thanks to goals from Will Nightingale, Jack Rudoni and Ryan Longman.
Johnnie Jackson
Johnnie Jackson entered football management with the club he finished his playing career with – Charlton Athletic.
He succeeded Nigel Adkins and was given the job permanently after a successful spell as caretaker manager, but only lasted a few months before departing at the end of the 2021/22 season.
Since taking charge at Wimbledon, he has overseen steady progress. After a tenth-placed finish last season, the Dons currently sit fourth and in a strong position halfway through the campaign.
Player-in-focus
Matthew Stevens sits at the top of the scoring charts with 11 league goals, also bagging another three in cup competitions.
Having scored more than a third of the Dons’ goals in the league, Stevens has become a reliant figure in the frontline and will be eager for more.
