Phil Tooley takes a look at the game and its context
Chesterfield 1 Milton Keynes Dons 1
League Two Game #8
I’m beginning to dislike Milton Keynes Dons! Eight games on our grass and Town are still to get maximum points. Four draws, four defeats. At least a draw is an improvement on last season’s loss here on New Year’s Day.
For me, it was a bit like blunt and better, a first half where there was no real cutting edge and a second half that was much more like it, certainly improved, but still a distance off what we know is the team’s best, which has only been seen in short bursts this season.
And let’s not forget the investment made by the Dons’ Kuwaiti owners and the quality in their side.
Their scorer, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, who I admit I knew nothing of before this fixture, played in the Premier League for Villa and was an England U20 international. Striker Callum Paterson has 17 Scotland caps, four goals in the Premier league and 27 in the SPL. Dan Crowley has made more than 100 appearances in the Dutch top flight and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing won promotion to and played in the Premier League for Cardiff City.
We’ve been terrorised in recent seasons by the likes of Nemane and Lemonheigh-Evans, and we shouldn’t forget that the opposition was led by a manager with four promotions from League One on his CV. In short, we played against a top side, led by a top manager, who also wanted to win the game.
We were all surprised to see a lack of Ryan Stirk on the team-sheet, hope all went well with the birth and congratulations. John Fleck, who got a fair bit of stick after the Crewe debacle, stepped up to play a blinder alongside a rejuvenated Tom Naylor, scorer of yet another set-play header, a real Danny Webb goal – good luck mate at Huish Park, you’ll be missed.
But up top, pre-break, it was all a bit uninspiring. Not enough service for Lee Bonis and the two best chances of the half falling to the two full-backs, a good tip-over from Lewis Gordon and a hammered into the side-netting from VDC. We want to see more, and we know there is more, from our flair players.
Another unlucky concession after Armando Dobra had done well to nick the ball back, turn and prepare to lay-off, only to slip and allow Hepburn-Murphy to dart forward and play a lovely one-two with skipper Alex Gilbey, who played in the Championship for Wigan alongside Will Grigg, and the finish was excellent.
The stats at the break showed three shots each, one on target each, whilst the numbers at the end indicated MKD had only one second half shot, off target, whilst Spireites finished off with a 12/4 tally, mirroring the improvement we could all see, but it took until 86 minutes, and a peach of a delivery from Liam Mandeville, for the back of the net to be troubled. Plenty of play, still not enough penetration, but a decent half after the previous five 45s had all been pretty poor (at best). Many now think #Where’sMandy should read #InTheEleven. Next appearance is his number 250 in points offering games for the club. Landmark.
Chesterfield are one of only four teams in the division unbeaten at home, surprisingly one is Accrington Stanley, plus high-flying Gillingham and our next opponents and hosts, Bromley (W2 D2). And guess who’s scored in all four of those games at Hayes Lane? Well, you’re wrong, it’s Nicke Kabamba! The Cheeky Boy has only scored in two of them, but as I’m sure we all know, he’s not scored against any team more than he’s scored against the Spireites, 11 in 15 games, six won, six lost.
Andy Woodman’s side are the only team we’ve played in every one of the last seven seasons and we’ve registered just a single win in South London in that time, 2-1 in April 2021. I had a quick look at our team that day, Mandeville was on the bench, and in midfield was a guy called Martin Smith.
I know back then we had a set of revolving doors with players coming in and out at a pace, but I have to confess, I have no memory of him whatsoever. I know it was at the time of no supporters at games due to the Covid spell, and no player interviews, but I’m sorry Martin, despite being at the game and the others you played in, you passed me by! Must be old age.
Bromley still have plenty of other familiar names, Sowunmi (go Jason), Whitely, Arthurs, Webster plus ex-Spireites Grant Smith and Marcus Dinanga, and their style will undoubtedly be no surprise to Paul Cook and his staff, so prepare for battle!
Phil’s Positive: Two points better off than last season after eight games, W4 D2 L2 this year compared to W3 D3 L2 a year ago, and last season, games 9, 10 and 11 spawned just three points from three draws, match #9 being a 2-2 draw at Bromley! And somewhat surprisingly, we moved up a place to sixth.
Next Match: We make the familiar trip to Bromley on Saturday, September 20 for a 3pm kick-off. Build-up on 1866 Sport starts at 2pm with the first and most comprehensive reaction coming in After the Whistle. Post MKD, listen back to interviews from the Gary Roberts, Lewis Gordon, Zach Hemming and Devan Tanton in this week’s podcast.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1 to start): Hemming, Daley-Campbell (Tanton 63), Dunkley, McFadzean, Gordon; Naylor, Fleck Markanday (Mandeville 78), Darcy (Dickson 78); Dobra (Lewis 90+3); Bonis (Grigg 63). Subs (not used); Boot, Grimes.
Goals: Hepburn-Murphy 25 (MKD), Naylor 86 (Chesterfield)
Referee: Ed Duckworth
Bookings: Dobra (Chesterfield), Mendez-Laing, Crowley, Paterson, Gilbey (MKD)
Attendance: 8,127 (592 from Milton Keynes)
1866 Sport Banner Jones Man of the Match: Lewis Gordon (chosen by Jamie Hewitt)
