Roy McFarland announced an unchanged starting eleven for the first time this season. Alex Bailey returned from injury to take a place on the bench.

Both sides' opening attacks ended with the offside whistle. Davies was judged to have fouled Quinn on 4, just outside the corner of the visitors' box. Rizzo's kick was headed away by Hazell for the first corner of the game. Niven cleared the cross. MK's second corner produced a shot and Roche saved, but Edds was judged to be offside.

McLeod had a shot blocked on 8 and rifled a follow-up goalwards, but just wide as MK mounted the early pressure. Quick passing between McLeod and Quinn gave the former another chance that he put wide. Niven's foul on Lewington kept the ball in Chesterfield's half, but Roche dealt with Mitchell's placed free kick well.

Morgan lost a Chesterfield clearance and Larkin nearly got in as the Spireites showed purpose up front for the first time, after 16 minutes. Baker did enough to prevent a clear shot. McLeod got into the box but saw his shot saved by Roche: his follow-up shot hit the left hand post, Edds tried to bundle the ball home but Blatherwick headed it off the line via the right hand  post again, and Roche gratefully caught the loose ball.

Izale McCleod - a constrant threat

Edds' snap shot from 25 yards on 24 was put over by Roche for another corner. McLeod's shot was cleared and returned by Rizzo but the defence did enough to force Platt to head over. McLeod went down in the box on 26 but the referee ignored the penalty claims; Rizzo swung one in for Platt and Roche saved, but play was pulled up for an MK foul.

Quinn got a shot from Hazell's 29^th-minute clearance but clipped the post. Chesterfield were given a free kick and a rare chance for Nicholson to hoist the ball into the MK box but Allott's shot went wide.

Chesterfield won their first corner on 37. Allison put Hurst's deep kick back across the area and Hall put it over again, but Baker caught the cross. As halftime approached the homesters' tempo began to wane a little. Still, the visitors' defence had a scare when Quinn ran through an area close to the offside (but inactive) Platt, but Hazell recovered in time to deal with it.

Morgan's foul on Allison brought a Spireite free kick some 30 yards out, on 41. Nicholson's quickly taken free kick nearly caught Baker out, but the keeper took it at the second attempt. Davies was fouled by McLeod and took the kick himself; Blatherwick got the head on, but MK cleared. Nicholson tapped it forward and ran on to his own pass, but the linesman's flag went up, to the general mystification of MK fans and Spireites alike.

The halftime whistle came with the game goalless, which reflected well on Chesterfield's tenacity in the face of the considerable pace and purpose shown by MK.

National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes

The Dons, on form, are a stronger first-half team, whereas The Spireites generally grow in authority in the second period. 13 of our 19 goals have come after half-time. MK have conceded just four in the first 45, but have let in 13 afterwards. Furthermore, MK have managed to lose 11 points from winning positions, while Chesterfield have yet to lose or draw a game in which they've taken the lead.

MK brought Wilbraham on at half time in place of Platt, who had reportedly been carrying an injury into the game but who had had an impressive, pacy first 45. Wilbraham offers a different threat, more as a target man, which might make things more comfortable for the visitors' defence.

Such hopes were unfulfilled, to begin with, as MK snapped from the traps again. Davies brought McLeod down inside the "D" on 49 and a five-man wall came together to face Rizzo's shot, which evaded the wall and hit the post. Roche cleared up after a scramble. Roche had to be alert to palm away a shot for another corner; the ball came to Morgan, whose effort hit the adverts on the roof of the stand behind the goal.

Chesterfield made a double substitution on 53, introducing Clingan for Hurst and Bailey for Davies. Clingan went central and Allott moved left, while Alex's return was a straight swap at right-back.

Mitchell was booked for dissent after Morgan was penalised for climbing on Allison on the hour. McLeod got through but his first touch was poor, for once, and Roche's speed of the line nullified the danger. MK brought McKoy on for the dangerous Rizzo with 63 on the clock.

Lewington was booked for sliding in on Bailey after 65. Chesterfield were beginning to grow in authority: Clingan switched play imaginatively to Bailey but the full-back's cross was a little over-hit. On 68 Mitchell committed a foul on Clingan, despite referee Parkes' continued warnings, and was shown a second yellow card. Quinn took up the mantle and followed through on Nicholson, gaining a yellow card to add to his frustration. Allott was found in space but hit the bar, although the linesman's offside flag stopped proceedings.

Niven's 74^th-minute shot dipped goalwards and was tipped over for a corner by Baker. Allison's header from the corner went just over. MK brought Smith on for Quinn on 75. Blatherwick was reckoned to have fouled Smith in a promising position but Clingan was able to clear the cross. Wilbraham broke through but stalled, and Hazell swept up. The two players came together a minute later with MK getting a free kick. The ball was cleared to Allott, who was fouled by McLeod. McLeod stumbled over fresh air on 80 and home fans were momentarily excited, but the ref pointed firmly to where goal kicks are taken, rather than penalties.

Blatherwick's header back on 80 was too weak and Roche was forced out to tackle, which he did well. Bailey's clearance went straight to Wilbraham and it needed a brave header from Blatherwick to clear the danger posed by McLeod. Lewington's perceptive through ball found McLeod in front of Hazell, but the defender recovered well. Going up the field, Chesterfield won a rare corner: Clingan's delivery was met by Allison, who nodded down for Hall, and Baker did well to smother the danger.

Adam Smith replaced Larkin on 88. Niven broke through and was checked 25 yards out by Mills, to give Chesterfield a free kick in a dangerous position. Clingan stepped up but the game was delayed as the referee sent Danny Wilson to the stands. Clingan's shot went narrowly wide.

Chesterfield's first draw of the season was hard-earned and probably tinged with a bit of luck, considering that MK hit the woodwork four times. The Spireites were unable to get going forward much; that was possibly the consequence of rustiness after a fortnight off, but it probably had more to do with the threat posed by MK going forward, which they continued to do after Mitchell's dismissal. In the end, though, it appeared to be a point won.