MATCH PACK: CHESTERFIELD
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Team News |
Luton Town: The Hatters will be without top-scorer Chris Martin as he sits out the first match of a two-game suspension after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season in the Wembley win over Scunthorpe. Manager Mick Harford is also waiting on the fitness of Lewis Emanuel and Kevin Gallen after both came off nursing knee and hamstring injuries respectively in Saturday's match at Lincoln.
Chesterfield: Spireites boss Lee Richardson will be without the services of Lewis Montrose and Aaron Downes while Drew Talbot is ineligible to play against his parent club. Richardson, however, will keep the Saltergate faithful guessing with his team selection with Ben Algar, Dan Gray, Kevin Austin and Rob Page all in contention for a starting place at Kenilworth Road.
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Manager Preview |
Mick Harford (talking to lutontown.co.uk): "We'll have to change things round but we have had a fully-fit squad to choose from over the last two-three weeks so the players who weren't in the squad will be coming in now. We've got to take the Lincoln form and the Wembley form into Chesterfield and we're confident we can get the three points."
Lee Richardson (talking to chesterfield-fc.co.uk): "We've got to regroup and look forward to Monday but it will be a tough test, we've played a little more football than they have so fresh leg maybe needed. We've got to go there with confidence."
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One to watch - Jack Lester |
A summer 2007 capture from Nottingham Forest, where he had two spells either side of a couple of seasons at Sheffield United, Jack began at Grimsby Town and also had a loan spell at Doncaster.
The striker turned down several offers from higher level clubs but chose to sign for the Spireites.
He had a stunning debut season at Saltergate bagging 27 goals, the best total for the club for over 50 years and has been a rich vein of scoring form this term with 23 goals to his name in all competitions.
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Chesterfield's current form |
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Saturday's 0-0 draw against Darlington might have been their fourth draw in succession but the point was enough to push Chesterfield into League 2's top seven for the first time this season.
After an earlier 0-0 draw with Darlington on 28th December the Spireites were in 13th place, seven points off the play-off positions.
But since the turn of the year the Spireites have been one of the division's form sides having won nine and losing just three of their 19 fixtures since 2009 began, shooting them towards a tilt at the end of season lottery.
The Saltergate faithful have seen their side claim some fantastic results, none more so than earning a 1-0 win at table-topping Brentford on 17th March
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Previous meetings |
Luton wins: 16
Chesterfield wins: 11
Draws: 10
In the 37 meetings the two sides have contested since the first back in 1899, the Hatters hold the upper hand with 16 victories.
Eleven of these wins have come at Kenilworth Road with the Hatters victorious in the last three meetings played in Bedfordshire.
The Spireites have won three times from previous visits to Kenilworth Road. The first came in a 3-0 win during the clubs' first meeting and their last was a 1-0 success in September 1996.
Chesterfield's last victory over the Town was on the final day of the 2002/03 season when the Spireites came from a goal down to record a 2-1 victory which ensured they avoided relegation to Division 3.
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Last time at Kenilworth Road |
Luton Town 1-0 Chesterfield 11th September 2004
The Hatters were on an unbeaten start to their 2004/05 campaign when Chesterfield were last at Kenilworth Road.
After a goalless first half the Hatters were quick out of the traps in the second period when Rowan Vine struck what turned out to be the winner four minutes after the break.
The Spireites were indebted to goalkeeper Carl Muggleton to keep the score at 1-0 but later had Steve Blatherwick and Shane Nicholson sent off in the final 15 minutes.
Luton Town: Beresford, Foley, Coyne, Davies, Davis, Underwood, Nicholls, Robinson (sub Leary), Brkovic, Vine (sub Showumni), Howard.
Unused substitutes: Keane, Seremet, Blinkhorn.
Chesterfield: Muggleton, Bailey, Blatherwick, O'Hare, Nicholson, Niven, Alllott, Hudson (sub Innes), Campbell-Ryce, Allison (sub DeBolla), N'Toya (sub Downes).
Unused substitutes: Davies, Richmond.
Attendance: 7,532
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Referee - Simon Hooper |
The Wiltshire whistler is making his first visit to Kenilworth Road and takes charge of his first match involving the Hatters.
Promoted to the League list at the start of the season, he has shown 54 yellow cards and six red cards in the 23 games he has officiated.
Mr Hooper has already overseen one match involving Chesterfield this season and that was during the Spireites' 4-2 home defeat to Macclesfield in which he sent-off ex-Town defender Alan Goodall in stoppage time.
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Match Betting |
Town are 6/4 shots to beat the Spireites who are 7/4 to earn their first win at Kenilworth Road since 1996.
Keith Keane has come close to scoring his first goal of the season in his past two matches against Scunthorpe and Lincoln and the Hatters' vice-captain is a 22/1 chance to opening the scoring on Monday.
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Live commentary |
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