After a disappointing afternoon on Merseyside at the weekend, it’s a quick turnaround for the Spireites as they head into the final Tuesday night fixture of the 2024/25 campaign as they face Gillingham at the SMH Group Stadium.
The fixture was rearranged after it was postponed earlier in the year due to the weather conditions. Since then, Gillingham have had two new managers, with Gareth Ainsworth now in the hot seat, taking the place of John Coleman, who had been given the job following the sacking of Mark Bonner.
Head-to-head
It was a frustrating day in Kent for Chesterfield earlier in the season. Despite a strong display, it was the Gills who took all three points, with Chey Dunkley seeing red late in the game.
The Spireites’ last home win over Gillingham came in the 2014/15 season, where goals from Sam Clucas (2) and Jay O’Shea ensured a 3-0 win for the hosts.
Paul Cook has faced Ainsworth nine times in his managerial career and has an even record against his opposite number, with four wins, four losses and one draw.
The last meeting between the pair saw Cook’s Ipswich side beat Wycombe Wanderers 4-1 away from home, with Bersant Celina netting twice for the Tractor Boys.
Gareth Ainsworth
Making his name with Wycombe Wanderers after guiding them to the Championship, Ainsworth is now managing the fourth club of his career and his second of the season.
Following a struggling spell at QPR, he returned to management with Shrewsbury Town earlier this season in a bid to help the Shrews retain their League One status, but moved to Gillingham in March after Coleman’s departure.
He has drawn his three games in charge at Priestfield so far, retaining his hard-to-beat reputation in the lower divisions of the Football League.
Player-in-focus
Attacking midfielder Jayden Clarke is Gillingham’s top scorer with seven goals, and he has started each of Ainsworth’s three games in charge so far after being in and out of the starting line-up under Coleman.
After a good first half of the season, he hasn’t found the back of the net since scoring in a 2-2 draw with Cheltenham back in December, so he will be eager to notch his first goal of the calendar year.
