Chesterfield will be looking for their first win of September this weekend as they host title favourites MK Dons at the SMH Group Stadium.
Paul Warne’s side currently sit below the Spireites but have been backed by many to finish top of League Two after several players from higher divisions moved to the club this summer.
They will face a Chesterfield side who lost 1-0 at Walsall last weekend and are battling ongoing criticism from supporters surrounding the squad’s defensive capabilities.
Last match
Last Saturday’s fixture was the fourth meeting between the Blues and the Saddlers this calendar year after their play-off semi-final affair in May, in which the latter triumphed.
Whilst having not won any of their four games against Matt Sadler’s side last season, Paul Cook’s side also went into the game off the back of their 7-1 midweek hammering at Crewe Alexandra in the Vertu Trophy, which had brought to light their lack of defensive options.
Tom Naylor and Dilan Markanday replaced the injured duo of Matt Dibley-Dias and Dylan Duffy from the 2-2 league draw with Crawley Town, while the hosts fielded a completely different eleven to their 2-1 win less than four months previously.
Despite the Spireites dominating possession, the home side created the first big opportunities as 6ft 6 in centre-back Aden Flint caused problems in the Blues’ penalty box from set-pieces.
An inaccurate free kick from Ronan Darcy was the closest the visitors got to scoring before Daniel Kanu gave the Saddlers the lead.
The striker fought his way past Kyle McFadzean before running in on goal and slotting past Zach Hemming for his first goal since signing on loan from Charlton Athletic.
Chesterfield struggled to create anything in front of goal and failed to produce a single shot on target in the game, even after home midfielder Charlie Lakin was sent off with 23 minutes to go for a second bookable offence.
The introduction of full-backs Adam Lewis and Devan Tanton freshened things up but great chances for Armando Dobra and Chey Dunkley, who many supporters would have bet their house on to at least trouble the keeper with his header, both missed the target.
The full-time result meant the Blues came away with their second loss of the season and dropped from second to seventh in the table.
Despite scoring a respectable 11 goals in their opening seven games, there will be worries over the number they have conceded.
No side in the top 17 in the division have let in more than the Spireites’ nine and they have not kept a clean sheet in their seven matches in all competitions.
Spireites team news
The hosts will be a coach short on Saturday after Danny Webb’s appointment as Yeovil Town manager.
The 42-year-old joined the Blues’ backroom staff in 2021 and became a much-loved figure around the club, as well as stepping in for three games as interim boss the following year.
His presence will be missed by all at the club but everyone will hope he achieves success down south.
On the pitch, winger James Berry is still not ready to make his second debut for the club after slow progressions in his return to fitness.
Midfield duo Dibley-Dias and Luke Butterfield are also out injured, whilst Dylan Duffy is unlikely to be involved despite being close to a return.
If Cook wishes to make any changes from the side who faced Walsall, Lewis and Tanton seem most likely to come in, whilst Will Grigg could also return in place of Lee Bonis up front.
Young striker Will Dickson made his debut off the bench against the Saddlers but it would be a surprise to see him overtake the Northern
Irish pair in the pecking order.
Opposition news
Despite being tipped by many to win the league, MK Dons have not quite hit the ground running in Paul Warne’s first full season in charge.
They went unbeaten in their first five games, with three wins and two draws, but have been defeated by Walsall and Grimsby Town in their last two.
Last weekend’s defeat to the Mariners saw them go three goals down at home within half an hour and have defender Jon Mellish sent off before half time.
An early second-half own goal and added-time finish from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans were not enough to save a point and they dropped to ninth, two points and places behind Chesterfield.
Their summer signings included Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Kane Wilson from Warne’s former side Derby County and ex-Sheffield Wednesday man Callum Paterson, as well as Bolton Wanderers forward Aaron Collins, who scored 12 League One goals last season and reportedly cost £750,000.
Midfielder Will Collar from Stockport County and defender Gethin Jones from Bolton also come with plenty of experience higher up.
Club legend Dean Lewington finally hung up his boots this summer at the age of 41 after making 919 appearances for the club in 21 years and has passed the captaincy on to midfielder Alex Gilbey.
Warne took over at the club in March after his sacking by Derby the previous month, replacing former boss Scott Lindsey.
In 12 games so far, he has won four, drawn five and lost three.
Previous encounter
The Dons came out on top both times last season, defeating the Spireites 3-0 at home at the start of December before backing it up with a 2-1 New Year’s Day victory.
That game saw Callum Hendry and Joe White give the visitors a two-goal lead before half-time, which they managed to hold on to despite Darren Oldaker’s 76th-minute free kick.
The Blues’ last victory against the Dons came in November 2016, when goals from Jay O’Shea, Kristian Dennis and Dan Gardner helped them to a 3-2 win.
Chesterfield 1-2 MK Dons, 1 January 2025:
Spireites lineup: Max Thompson, Ryheem Sheckleford, Tom Naylor, Jamie Grimes, Branden Horton (Tim Akinola), Darren Oldaker, Dilan Markanday, Liam Mandeville, Armando Dobra, Bailey Hobson, Kane Drummond (Ryan Colclough); Bench – Ryan Boot, Harvey Araujo, John Fleck, Connor Cook, James Berry
Familiar face
One former Spireite who could return to the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday is Laurence Maguire, who spent nine years at the club.
The defender made 173 appearances for the Blues after signing his first professional contract in 2015 and was a consistent figure throughout the club’s non-league days.
He was released last year after spending the 2023/24 season on loan at Crawley, who he won promotion to League One with, and subsequently signed for the Dons.
He has not played yet this season after injury issues but returned to training this week.
Match details
Chesterfield v MK Dons
League Two
Saturday 13 September
15:00 KO
SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield
