Injury-ravaged AFC Wimbledon battled their way to a 0-0 draw at Chesterfield in League One.

The Dons went their seventh game without scoring away from home but ended a difficult week with a praiseworthy point to take back from the Proact Stadium.

The visitors started sluggishly and looked vulnerable down both flanks. Gboly Ariyibi fired in a shot that caught the outstretched boot of Dominic Poleon and bounced narrowly wide, before James Shea watched Dan Gardner’s curling effort sail past his left-hand post.

First-half opportunities for the Dons were restricted to a couple of half-chances for the unconvincing Tyrone Barnett in the box and a Darius Charles volley that flew narrowly over the bar from a corner.

Five minutes after the start of the second half, Shea leapt to make a good save from Jon Nolan’s near-post shot- the first shot on target for either side.

Poleon looked to keep the chance of a result alive when he came out of a melee of bodies and fizzed a left-footed drive straight at the keeper.

The Spireites, somewhat improved under new manager Gary Caldwell, pressed late on as Reece Mitchell fired in a low strike and Ariyibi flashed across goal but it would remain goalless.

The wait goes on

In seven outings and 530 minutes of football, the Dons have failed to find the back of the net in an away league match.

In truth, they didn’t really look like breaking their duck at the Proact Stadium.

Darius Charles and Dom Poleon both had decent enough chances but the visitors didn’t put enough shots on goal to test Ryan Fulton in any substantial way.

With five injuries and a suspension, any sort of result from the game could be considered a positive one.

Young blood

With Meades, Parrett, Barcham, Taylor and Elliott all out through injury, Ardley had no choice but to shuffle his pack for this game.

Tom Beere and Alfie Egan, making his league debut, came into the side and did well enough; it was Barcham’s direct dribbling, Taylor’s movement and Elliott’s presence that were really missed.

It might have helped to exorcise some of the demons of the Sutton defeat that there were a few fresh faces in the team.

Best of friends

Darius Charles and Chris Robertson were on opposite sides of the League Two play-off final in 2011 but teamed up to forge a stoical central defensive partnership in Derbyshire.

Paul Robinson is a huge miss for them at the back, yet the experienced pair forced Ched Evans out wide in the second half and blocked up the middle of the pitch nicely.

With Robinson set to miss the trips to Gillingham and Sheffield United, Ardley need not worry about the heart of his defence as long as these two stay fit.