The League leaders take on AFC Wimbledon who are 3rd in the table having won their last 3 games, beating Scunthorpe 3-2 and Fleetwood 2-0 both at home, last Saturday they won 2-0 at York. This is a remarkable start to the season considering they only avoided relegation thanks to a 2-1 home win against Fleetwood on the last day of the season. A lot of praise must go to Manager Neal Ardley in his first managerial job having taken over in October 2012 and with one of the lowest budgets in the League.
Vital Quotes:
Paul Cook told BBC Radio Sheffield: ‘The players are very aware of how hard you have to work to get wins. We have to be prepared for how teams are setting up against us.
‘I don’t get carried away with football, I just want to win on Saturday.
Neal has done brilliantly there after a baptism of the last season. They’ve had a great start at and last week’s win at York was very impressive.’
Chesterfield Team News:
New signing Gary McSheffrey who joined the Spireites on a four month deal will probably start on the bench, with Cook starting with an unchanged team. Nathan Smith is still unavailable with an ankle injury.
Player to watch: Tendayi Darikwa
Darikwa put in an impressive performance against Accrington Stanley last Saturday scoring the only goal of the game. The winger can operate on either wing and loves to run at defenders, and uses his pace to great effect.
AFC Wimbledon Team News:
Neal Ardley has no new injury worries, Andy Frampton is available despite requiring four stitches in last week’s 2-0 win at York.
Player to watch: Michael Smith
Number 9 Michael Smith a purposeful 6ft 4in centre-forward who joined the Wombles in July until January from Charlton on-loan. He has scored 4 goals in 6 games including a brace at York last weekend.
Match Facts & Stats
Having only played twice their isn’t much history to go on. Last season the Spireites won their home fixture against the Wombles thanks to second-half goals from Gnanduillet and Lester.
Ref Watch:
Eddie Ilderton from Tyne and Wear is in charge of this game. You have to go back to 3rd of October 2009 to find the last time the Spireites won a game with him in charge, a 1-0 win against Accrington Stanley at Saltergate, 6 yellow cards were given out. The last match he refereed the Spireites was last New Years Day a 1-0 defeat at Accrington, 4 yellows were given out. He took charge of 2 games during the relegation season a 1-1 draw at Bury and 3-1 defeat at home to Notts County, no cards were given in either game.
Match Prediction:
It’s going to be a tough game for the Spireites against a very well organised Wimbledon side, so I am going for a 2-2 draw.
Next Fixtures:
Another difficult game when they travel to Oxford United who are currently 2nd in the League.
