‘You have to find all sorts of ways to win’ - reaction to Chesterfield’s gritty victory at Bristol Rovers

Defenders won special praise as Chesterfield plugged the leaks and toughed out their grittiest win of the season.

Goalkeeper Zach Hemming and the back line of Remeao Hutton, Kyle McFadzean, Jack Simpson and Lewis Gordon gave the team the platform to go and beat a physical Bristol Rovers team 2-0 with a goal in each half from Louie Marsh and Lee Bonis.

The clean sheet followed the concession of 13 goals in the previous three games and was only Chesterfield’s third shut-out in 20 league and cup matches this season.

“You have to find all sorts of ways to win,” assistant manager Danny Webb told SpireitesTV.

“To stand up to Bristol Rovers’ strengths, which there are a lot of by the way - they are a good team with really good players - and score two and then go right to the end with people putting their bodies on the line, it makes everyone’s weekend seem a little bit sweeter.

“Even when we got the second goal there were still about 15 minutes to play with added time so to see it out the way we did and get the clean sheet, I’m pleased for the team but especially for the back lads and the goalkeeper.”

Marsh’s measured opener underlined just what an important signing he has been since joining on loan from Sheffield United late in the window while Bonis’s goal was a fifth of the season for him. He had been preferred to Fraser Bryden in a starting line-up showing eight changes from midweek.

“There were two excellent finishes,” said Webb. “Yes there were times we could have had a bit more control of the game and played our way a little bit more but you can’t complain when you come to a really big club like Bristol Rovers and get three points.

“Credit to all the players and the supporters who came down here.”

Webb mentioned that manager Paul Cook was “in and around it” during the half-time team talk. He was serving the first of a three-match touchline ban for misconduct during last month’s defeat at Newport County.

Cook will also be missing at next Saturday’s home match against Shrewsbury, as will McFadzean after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

At least Chesterfield will go into that game back up to seventh spot in League Two and chasing a fourth straight win having despatched Yeovil and then Mansfield in the cups before today’s three-pointer.

Added Webb: “We’ve beaten Yeovil, that was the first tick from the disappointment of losing at Newport.

“We’ve beaten our rivals and what a night that was but let’s get it right, the league is our bread and butter.

“We are only a point off third now and football can change very very quickly.

“I thought we might have gone a bit higher today but obviously other teams must have got good results.

“We don’t want to be outside those play-off places. For anyone who doesn’t look at the table then that’s fine but our aim is automatic promotion. That was aim at the start of the season and to be in the top seven gives you the best chance of achieving that.”