Chesterfield complete a hat-trick of wins at the expense of Bristol Rovers
Chesterfield have now won three matches in three different competitions in the space of eight days
It’s three wins on the spin now for Chesterfield and a place back in League Two’s play-off frame.
That’s after they won 2-0 at Bristol Rovers with strikes from Louie Marsh - his eighth of the season - and Lee Bonis.
And after all the defensive wobbles lately, a first clean sheet since September was a nice little bonus.
Manager Paul Cook was serving the first of a three-match touchline ban and will have been delighted with the way his team went about their business in his absence. They really rolled up their sleeves and gritted this one out.
Rovers were so ineffective in the first period that manager Steve Evans hooked two players, including key forward Joe Quigley, before half time.
By then Chesterfield had dealt comfortably with the home side’s long ball game, won their battles and carved out the best chances.
It could have been 1-0 early on when goalkeeper Brad Young coughed up the ball to Liam Mandeville and the midfielder’s stab towards an unguarded goal hit the post.
Marsh was running the show, cutting in from the left and forcing a full-length, low-down save before curling in from a very similar position to open the scoring on 24 minutes.
Another peach of a pass from the play maker saw the ball whipped away from Bonis in the nick of time.
The only downer of the half was a yellow card for Kyle McFadzean. It was the veteran’s fifth of the season, meaning he misses next Saturday’s match at home to Shrewsbury.
Rovers came more into the game in the second half
Tommy Leigh volleyed their first clear chance over the bar and Zach Hemming’s knee kept out a far post header from Ellis Harrison.
Chesterfield’s substitutions had helped them take the game away from local rivals Mansfield in midweek and the introduction of Dilan Markanday, Joel Randall, Dylan Duffy and Kiano Dyer again showed their strength in reserve.
Randall demanded another decent save before the advantage was doubled on 77 minutes, Bonis seizing on a loose pass from Shaq Forde to advance and find the bottom corner.
A brave block from Tom Naylor at the end ensure the shut-out before the Spireites celebrated in front of their 600-plus travelling supporters at the Memorial Stadium.
It means Chesterfield have won three matches in three different competitions in the space of eight days.
Chesterfield (4-2-3-1): Hemming; Hutton, McFadzean, Simpson, Gordon; Naylor (capt), Stirk; Mandeville (Dyer 86), Marsh (Markanday 65), Koroma (Randall 65); Bonis (Duffy 80)