Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Milton Keynes Dons 3 Chesterfield 0
League Two Game #18
If ever a match had a turning point, minutes 25 and 26 provided it at Stadium:MK. The Spireites had recovered from conceding after just 12 seconds, surely the quickest Chesterfield concession ever, but with Liam Mandeville through for a one-on-one, parity looked odds-on. Saved.
In the build-up, DJ Oldaker, who’d been unluckily booked earlier on, protested to the referee that the man who fouled him (advantage was properly played) had done exactly the same type of challenge he’d been booked for, but had not been booked for it. Sadly, you can’t make any attempt to get another player booked these days, so card #2, ten men. Silly mistake. From the drop-ball restart, the Dons moved forwards, a cross from the right and 2-0. From 1-1 to 2-0 and a man down in two blinks of an eye. Bad any day, against a side with five straight league wins going into the match, a disaster.
Another turning point came in the second half, at 2-0, Ryan Colclough hammers a shot against a post, MKD go forwards and 3-0. From 2-1 to 3-0 after another couple of blinks. It looked well off-side ‘live’ but a lot closer on seeing a replay. Not sure. But by then, on 82, the game was effectively over.
The opener came straight from the kick-off. Pritchard, making his first league start for MK, drew first time Chesterfield league starter Liam Jessop and rolled the ball to the edge of the six for Liam Hogan, with over 200 Championship games and a £9m from Brentford to Villa behind him, to convert. Disaster.
The second prompted a major change from the gaffer. Jessop off, Jamie Grimes on and three at the back with wing-backs. That steadied the ship but clearly the hosts were always going to boss possession, but going forwards, some of Dons’ decisions were debatable, but when they got it right and delivered a shot, Max Thompson was invariably in the right place. The keeper rode his luck a bit, the inside of his knee stopped one raid and he just managed to scoop a blocked clearance off the line. It could have been more.
But Town did get some shots in, and at 3-0 hit a post again, through Branden Horton, but in truth, after the 1-1 to 2-0 blink, a home win never looked in doubt.
Ahead of the game, Paul Cook had recalled Kane Drummond from his loan at Oldham Athletic and also registered Ryheem Sheckleford and Horton on the roster, it’s full for the rest of this month now. The manager told me afterwards he couldn’t really use Sheckleford again after his comeback 70 minutes at Exeter City, but he’s set to start against Tranmere Rovers.
Ollie Banks looked bruised and battered at the end and could well be a doubt for the games against one of his former clubs. If so, there are zero fit central midfielders, so the backroom staff will need to come up with some magic to determine a strategy and game plan for the Birkenhead boys.
Talking of former clubs, Rovers have three ex-Spireites on their books. Striker Kristian Dennis is the most likely to play, but Saidou Khan is there on loan from Swindon and 43-year-old keeper Joe Murphy, who played at Preston in Paul Cook’s last game of spell #1 is also registered.
Rovers sit fifth bottom after a 2-2 home draw with improving Morecambe. Nigel Adkins’ side had lost their previous two fixtures without scoring. Their two EFL2 away wins this season have come against fellow strugglers Carlisle United and Bromley, but draws at MKD and Port Vale show they know their way around other teams’ grass.
Saturday is sure to be a real test for everyone at CFC, from the manager to the supporters, plus (of course) the fit players, but let’s just remind ourselves that the last time Chesterfield were in as high a position in the EFL before this season, in a season where the club was not relegated, was 2014/15, Paul Cook’s last season of his first spell.
We may all be hacked off, but there’s no need to panic, we have the right people in the right places (apart from the myriad in the treatment room of course!)
Phil’s Positive: The endeavour from the short-handed Spireites, nothing left put there.
Next Match: Old rivals Tranmere Rovers visit us for the first time in over 12 years, EFL2, KO 3pm. Full commentary for subscribers on the commentary platform (find details on Chesterfield FC website). Build-up from 2pm, half-time and post-match remains on the 1866 Sport App.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Thompson; Jessop (Grimes 27), Williams, Araujo (Horton 74), Gordon; Banks, Oldaker; Markanday (Colclough 74), Mandeville, Dobra (Berry 74); Grigg (Drummond 46). Unused Subs: Boot, Sheckleford.
Goals: Hogan 1, Gilby 26, 82 (MK Dons)
Referee: Carl Brook
Bookings: Banks, Gordon, Araujo (Chesterfield), Wearne (MK Dons)
Red Card (for two yellows) Oldaker 13, 25 (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 5,903 (916 from Chesterfield)
Galaxy Travel 1866 Sport Man of the Match: Max Thompson (chosen by Josh Marsh)
