MILTON KEYNES DONS V CHESTERFIELD 03-12-24
Bad night all round.
Boss Paul Cook made 7 changes for the trip to MK Dons with Gordon, Mandeville, Banks, Markanday, Araujo and Dobra, with Liam Jessop making his first start.
Disastrous start from kick off. 4 passes and the Spireites were 1/0 down.
Oldaker saw yellow but worse was to follow on 24 minutes when the same player made a hand action suggesting a red card for a Dons player which was both silly and irresponsible and lead to a second yellow and therefore red. So the night was made harder. And Dons duly made it 2/0 on 27 minutes when Alex Gilby did more or less the same as Scott Hogan did for the first. Lost any semblance of a marker and fired home with ease.
Grimes then replaced Jessop and Mandeville dropped to right back. And half time came with no more additions to the score.
Drummond on at the start of the second half to replace Grigg. He did actually make an impact chasing and harassing the Dons’ defence.
Colclough, Berry and Horton all came on and the Spireites managed to get in behind the Dons’ defence. Indeed the woodwork was hit twice during a good 5 minute period. Alas the defence were finally caught flat-footed and while appealing for an offside decision, Gilbey ran through to make it 3/0.
Thompson came to the rescue on several occasions to keep it at 3
916 travelling Spireites were left totally frustrated in a crowd of 5903.
Really difficult night not made any easier with the poor early goal and the irresponsible red card.
58% possession to 42% in favour of MK Dons (42% isn’t bad with ten men?)
12 shots on target for MKD with 8 for the Spireites.
673 passes for MKD compared to 482 for the Spireites.
Wearne saw yellow for MKD whilst Araujo and Gordon saw yellow for the Spireites.
Totally frustrating night but we move on to Saturday and Tranmere in town.
The injury crisis isn’t helping the cause, but 9th place and 3 points off the play offs is still credible. Suspect we’ll be glad to see December out and Paul Cook can at least add to his depleted squad.
MATCH REPORT: ALAN WILKINSON
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIANA THOMPSON
