The Spireites fell to a 3-0 defeat against a rampant MK Dons side who dominated from the first attack that edged them in front.
To add to a disappointing night, Darren Oldaker was sent-off after receiving two yellow cards.
Behind within seconds of the kick-off, the Spireites struggled to offer a serious threat throughout. Three late substitutions triggered a late flurry of offensive action but the woodwork saved the Dons and from the next attack they sealed the win after Alex Gilbey notched his second and his side’s third.
It was a quick turnaround for the Spireites. A long journey back from their FA Cup exit at the hands of an impressive League One Exeter, MK went into the game on the back of a two-week break and five straight league wins.
Paul Cook will have been hoping for some positive news on the injury front after three more of the squad picked up knocks in Devon; subsequently he brought back Kane Drummond from his loan spell at Oldham Athletic and slotted him straight into the squad.
The manager made seven changes from the side that started at St James’ Park, in came Liam Jessop for his first Football League start along with Harvey Araujo, Lewis Gordon, Ollie Banks, Armando Dobra, Liam Mandeville and Dilan Markanday; making way were Ryheem Sheckleford, Branden Horton, Tom Naylor, Jamie Grimes, Michael Jacobs, Ryan Colclough and James Berry.
The Spireites, in all blue, started defending the end that housed another impressive away following but they were immediately stunned into silence as the Dons took the lead in the first move of the game. Joe Pritchard picked up well on the left and ran strongly before hitting an angled ball into the six/yard box, Scott Hogan (1) read the ball perfectly and touched home from close range.
Great work between Mandeville and Markanday created a promising opening but the ball was laid back to Banks centrally who tried his luck from 25 yards, sadly straight into the arms of home keeper Tom McGill.
Lax defending let in Hogan again in the 11th minute; he had a clear sight of goal from just 10 yards but blazed high and wide.
The Spireites broke well with Mandeville and Armando Dobra linking well on the left, a cut-back found Mandeville who hit from 15 yards but McGill held cleanly.
Chesterfield gave away possession in a dangerous area and Hogan received a neat pass from ex-Spireites Laurence Maguire, he hit cleanly on the floor but Spireites’ keeper Max Thompson pushed to safety.
The game turned on its head in a moment. Dobra had provided the prefect through ball down the middle for Mandeville who picked up 30 yards out and ran strongly into the box, jinked to the left before hitting goalbound; home keeper McGill read well to save low down.
Moments later the Spireites were down to ten men. Oldaker picked up his second yellow card for dissent after showing displeasure at a clumsy challenge he received.
The hosts then broke and a long ball from the right found Gilbey (24) just inside the six-yard box on the left and he had the easy task of touching home.
Jessop, who had shown lots of offensive promise, was replaced by Jamie Grimes.
Three minutes were added and the Spireites had most of the ball but, as in the rest of the half, their enterprise was stifled by robust tackling and a firm defensive line that kept their shape solidly.
Chesterfield made a second change at the start of the second half; Drummond replaced Will Grigg and almost made an immediate impact. Drummond received wide left, cut inside and from just inside the area tried a hit to the right bottom corner, sadly his effort flew narrowly wide.
Balls over the top twice set up MK. First, scorer Gilbey had an effort palmed away for a corner and moments later Hogan picked up and hit into Thompson’s arms from 15 yards.
Ten minutes into the half, Hogan again went close. Aaron Nemane showed pace down the right, fed Hogan well and his strong blast saw Thompson save well.
Dobra released Gordon on the left and he hit a peach of a ball across the face of goal but sadly no player in a blue shirt was on hand to take advantage.
Thompson was soon in action again – palming away good efforts from Nemane and Hogan.
When the referee awarded the Spireites a free-kick just outside the area, wide-right, Banks’ effort hit the defensive wall but follow-up shots from Mandeville and Dobra also failed to threaten.
There was a triple change as Berry, Colclough and Horton came into the game. Immediately there was a new positivity as Colclough hit a first-time effort against the woodwork and Horton’s follow-up took a deflection off a post to safety.
In MK’s next attack they added a third. Another long pass found Gilbey (82) wide left and he cut inside, spotted a gap and hit home.
In the first of three added minutes, Thompson’s clearance hit an MK player and was rolling towards goal before the keeper managed a last-ditch clearance that restricted the Dons to their three-goal tally.
Chesterfield: Thompson, Araujo (Horton 74), Mandeville, Oldaker, Grigg (Drummond 46), Williams, Dobra (Colclough 74), Gordon, Markanday (Berry 74),Banks, Jessop (Grimes 27)
Substitutes not used: Boot, Sheckleford
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 5,903 (including 916 Chesterfield supporters)
