Chesterfield were again unchanged for the visit of Milton Keynes, while the visitors welcomed Keith Andrews back after suspension. Former Spireite loanee Felix Bastiens, who scored our winner at Milton Keynes this season, didn't even get as far the MK bench.

Both sides spent the opening phase in a solid if slightly unadventurous mood. It was an approach that served us well against Lincoln but on this occasion both teams struggled in difficult conditions, too. A strong wind blew from the north and this helped hold the ball up for Dowson in the 8^th minute, as he chased down Lester's through ball and shot from twelve yards. Gueret held it at the second attempt.

Dowson was fouled on the corner of the area on 13 but Kovacs headed Lowry's free kick wide. MK got the ball down and began playing more effectively; Navarro's through ball to Johnson on 16 had too much on it but indicated danger to come. Regan was booked for going through late on Leven on halfway, in the 21^st minute. A foul on Lester six minutes later on the edge of the "D" gave Leven an opportunity, but his shot flew just over the bar.

Hartley and Kerry both went into the book for fouls within a minute of each other, on the half hour. In Kerry's case this rather reduced his effectiveness and brought a more cautious outlook to his play, and Chesterfield were not quite the same in midfield after that.

Jude Stirling replaced Regan on 39. Winter saw a shot saved after good work by Picken and Lowry in the build-up. As half time approached Chesterfield's defence lacked mobility and awareness as a cross from a twice-taken free kick came in from our left; Downes tried to clear but didn't connect and Andrews came in at the far post to give the visitors the lead. Things might have got worse; in the middle of his box and with a good chance to clear, Downes screwed the ball out for the first of two corners that were at least kept out as the interval arrived to provide respite from this sudden, inexplicable panic.

Chesterfield brought Ward on for Dowson at half time. Two quick corners were won by the home side but they were dealt with by the Dons' defence.

Sterling was booked for a terrible-looking foul on Ward on 54; he went clean through the forward, forcing him to cartwheel forwards, but Ward - to his credit - was on his feet straight away. Sterling did not look at all comfortable at right-back but little was done by Chesterfield to expose his shortcomings as the game went on.

MK brought Wilbraham on for Miles on 65 as both sides seemed to be trying to widen the game out. This certainly made home attacks look a little more dangerous, although it wasn't until the introduction of Fletcher for Winter on 66 that the longer ball forward finally had a focus. Unfortunately, we'd been playing it long too often, too early, in response to the lack of success that MK's quick closing down had produced when we'd had possession on the deck.

Within two minutes of the substitution, Chesterfield were level. The ball was worked in towards Lester in the middle of the Dons' defence but, as was usually the case this night, the MK backline shut Jack out effectively. The ball came back to LOWRY, however, and he placed a well-struck shot through the crowd and into the left-hand corner of the net. Gueret could only stand and watch admiringly.

Unfortunately, Roche was rendered equally statuesque as MK restored the lead from the kick-off. Wilbraham's good work on our left opened it up for Dyer to run in and shoot home; Roche saw it late and had no chance.

Wilbraham's greater mobility and purpose was causing problems to our defence, but it was the full-back Lewington who came closest to extending the visitors' lead, when his 79^th-minute shot from 30 yards struck the post and fell kindly for Hartley to clear.

Ward's outrageous dummy on 81 left Sterling stranded in the neighbouring borough and forced O'Hanlon to clear for a corner, but Chesterfield's deliveries were now landing safely in the keeper's hands. Livermore replaced Cameron on 84 and the remaining time was played out well by MK, whose threat on the break meant that the home side couldn't bring themselves ever to throw caution to the wind in search of a second equaliser.