Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 1 Milton Keynes Dons 2
League Two Game #24
Paul Cook’s got a tough job. Tougher even than knowing which bin or bins to put out on what day this week, and that’s the toughest thing 2025 has thrown at most people yet. He knows the squad needs reinforcing. He knows that the club will have to continue to pay a few injured players which will impact on the financial fair play rules. He knows that just recruiting nilly-willy (PC’s own phrase in our 1866 Sport chat) is not a sustainable strategy. He knows that others will be nibbling at his prized assets.
I know I’d rather have Paul Cook in charge at this stage of the game than any other person in football. I know I’d rather have Phil & Ashley Kirk holding the cheque book than any other people right now.
A few bumps in the road, nothing yet we could register as a pothole, but in this ridiculous division where no result is certain, the main thing that keeps me positive is Salford City. They moved up to third place using stealth tactics. I hadn’t even noticed they were in the top half. Shows you a good run will get you to where you want to be. Sunday’s opponents Gillingham were top when we played at their place. Bottom half now. Anything can happen and probably will. If you’ve got a few bob on Town winning promotion, don’t rip your ticket up yet.
Credit MK for their first, a rapid free-kick that earned space for Callum Hendry, but PC and his staff will be disappointed with their side’s subsequent actions, and similar for goal #2 when far too much space was given to Joe White, whose shot was far from rocket propelled, but still beat his Newcastle United team-mate Max Thompson, who’ll look back and think he possibly could have done better.
That second, just before the break, changed the whole dynamic, and forced Chesterfield to step up a gear or two, and they did, and reverting to 4-2-3-1 with Liam Mandeville dropping back to hold with DJ worked well, with Oldaker pulling one back with another superb free-kick.
Chances came and went in the final 15 plus extras, somehow Mandeville’s ball in towards Armando Dobra didn’t go in at the far post.
For me, the biggest thing to have changed in our NL exile is that EFL2 clubs have learned to play like NL ones. Foul when needed, waste time, create pseudo-time-outs. In games at the SMH this season, the visitors have accumulated 58% more fouls than the Spireites (in away games, the home side have fouled 25% more than us). MKD 16 fouls, Chesterfield 9 on the day. At Bradford City, 23-13 and at Fleetwood, 15-8. That’s 30 fouls conceded in the three defeats, 54 against Chesterfield, that’s a whopping 80% difference. Are we too nice?
First mystery to solve in 2025. How did MKD keeper Tom McGill not get a yellow for time-wasting? He was warned time and again by the referee, but no action taken. I also noted how many times he carried the ball out of the area when he kicked from his hands. That said, he made some fine saves. The total added on at the end of both halves was way short of what stoppage time there really was. Lead, waste time, no consequences. Sad.
Hobson and Drummond both worked incredibly hard, and Tim Akinola looked sharp on his EFL debut, but not long ago, these guys were all on loan in the National League, so you don’t have to be Einstein to work out that our squad is pretty decimated at the moment, with our strength in depth all sitting, or lying, in the treatment room.
Everyone is hoping for some new blood before the Gillingham game, but that balance between panicking & over-spending and being pragmatic & building is a fine one. The injuries will, I’m sure, not heal as rapidly as we all hope. PC indicated Michael Jacobs is next in line for a recovery, but the blank weekend due to surprise package Salford still being in the FA Cup is a real bonus. There’s plenty going on in the background, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. If you’re an angler, there are far more ‘ones that got away’ than successful landings.
The Gills’ last two wins, ironically, were against MKD and Salford. They play Bromley on Thursday after straight away defeats at Colchester and Wimbledon. Tim Dieng and Bradley Dack are both fit after not featuring in their 1-0 win over Chesterfield earlier in the season, so there’s plenty of quality in the squad.
Not a great run for sure, but conditions have been far from ideal for the squad. Get some new blood in, take that rest in the middle of the month, and we’ll soon be back on track. You can get 4-1 for promotion on Spireites right now, looks worth a nibble to me, much more likely to give you pleasure than left over turkey and cold, on the turn, Brussels sprouts.
Phil’s Positive: Spirit in abundance and with the window now open, the team is still hanging on in there. Plus Paul Cook is the gaffer!
Next Match: The Spireites will be hoping to see Town in their Sunday Best on Sunday, January 5, KO 3pm when Gillingham visit the SMH Group Stadium. 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. The match is also available to stream, details also on the club website.
Chesterfield (4-1-4-1 to start): Thompson; Sheckleford, Naylor, Grimes, Horton (Akinola 84); Oldaker; Markanday, Mandeville, Dobra, Hobson; Drummond (Colclough 65). Unused Subs: Boot, Cook, Berry, Araujo, Fleck.
Goals: Oldaker 76 (Chesterfield), Hendry 18, White 44 (MKD)
Referee: Elliot Bell
Bookings: Mandeville, Dobra, Colclough (Chesterfield), Harrison, Sherring, Offord, Nemane (MKD)
Attendance: 9,119 (581 from Milton Keynes)
Galaxy Travel 1866 Sport Man of the Match: Bailey Hobson (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
