The Official Chesterfield Match Thread Sponsored by (11pm on a Matchday "for all your Transfer Deadline Day needs")

Last time out against Northampton we played some great stuff for the first half an hour, scoring our first goal of the season and generally looking like a side that knew what they were doing. Worryingly a single opposition substitution and accompanying tweak of system was sufficient to nullify our threat. With Plan A no longer working, there didn't appear to be much in the way of a Plan B and the next hour appeared more industrious than entertaining, with a draw probably a fair result.

Tonight we face Chesterfield, a much fancied side pre-season, but one who have had a slow start under Paul Cook, with two defeats to Fleetwood and Rotherham sandwiching their sole win away at misfiring moneybags, Salford. The Spireites will be looking to improve on their play-off semi-final defeat last season, and to that end they've made 11 new signings as of this morning, splashing out £120,000 on forward Fraser Bryden from Northern Ireland's Crusaders to fill an Armando Dobra-shaped hole following his departure to Orient.

With Gills lacking central defensive options, GA brough Jack Daley into the club on a season long loan from Middlesbrough. The 19-year old has just signed a contract extension and is highly thought of in the North East following a season at the Middlesborough academy after his July 2025 arrival from Newcastle Blue Star. He seemingly knows how to play his part at both ends having notched six goals for Blue Star in 37 appearances.

As it's deadline day, we're led to believe that there could be at least one more inbound player. A big man up top could be handy, however, defensive cover at full/wing back is also required given Harris's long-term injury. GA also mentioned that he's not expecting any further departures but we're not a club that can turn the money down. It seems the fund will continue past the final whistle this evening.

Albarus was missing last time out, he's been a real bright spot since his arrival from Brighton and there has been no mention of his absence that I could see. Similarly Tabares seems to have disappeared into a black hole since his injury with no mention of a return for him. I know fans aren't party to the exact goings on at the club but this smoke and mirrors around who's fit and who's not continues to grate. Whether any of those "on the grass" are ready for a return tonight remains to be seen.

Tonight's fixture will be the 75th meeting of the two sides, Gills with 32 wins to Chessie's 24. We've not won away to the Spireites in nearly 11 years since a 1-3 win in October 2015. That victory was our fourth in six visits as this part of Derbyshire became a happy hunting ground for a period. Christ, even Mark McCammon managed to score a winning goal at Saltergate, one I just caught having arrived 15 minutes after kick-off.

For the highlights we'll go with that win in 2015, Egan, Donnelly and Lennon the goalscorers.

​Neither side has started the season on fire, Gills, with their injury list the more understandable, but the longer our winless streak goes on, the more pressure will build on GA. There has been a mild improvement over the end of last season, how could there not? However, it's yet to translate itself into three points, maybe tonight is the night?

Right. That's enough typing, I'm off to the beach.

​Safe travels if you're making the trip tonight, enjoy the game and...

COYG!!!