Four big talking points as ten-man Chesterfield earn draw at Dagenham and Redbridge

Tom Whelan was harshly sent off after 10 minutes but the Spireites took the lead soon after when Will Evans fired in.

However, the Daggers hit back instantly through Scott Wilson at the near post after a good move.

Akwasi Asante put the Blues in front again from close-range just before half-time after a brilliant piece of skill from Haydn Hollis.

But Sam Deering curled in from 25 yards to level the score just after the break.

Red for Whelan

Chesterfield had made a bright at Victoria Road but suffered a big blow when Whelan was sent off after 10 minutes. The midfielder tried to win a 50-50 ball on the turn but was slightly late. There is no doubt that he caught Dagenham’s Callum Reynolds high up but I still think it was quite harsh and a yellow would have been the right punishment. It was not deliberate and I do not think the home players were expecting a red card. He will be suspended for the next three matches if Town don’t appeal which makes the decision even more hard to take.

A point gained or two dropped?

Having played for 80 minutes with ten men away from home, you would have to say it is a point gained. But, having led twice, first through Evans and then Asante, there might be a bit of disappointment in the Spireites camp that they did not get all three. Having said that, there was nothing they could do about Deering’s long-range equaliser which made it 2-2. And, to be fair, their first goal was well-worked too. Overall, the Blues put in a proper shift and on the back of another tough away match at Boreham Wood, they deserve a lot of credit.

Haydn ‘Lionel’ Hollis

There are no words that will do Hollis’ outrageous piece of skill that led to Chesterfield’s second goal justice. Against all the odds, he plucked the ball out of the air with his left foot, cut inside his marker and shot towards goal. His effort was saved but Asante tapped in from close-range for his seventh goal for the club. The fact Hollis had the confidence to bring the ball down just shows how good he is feeling now after some outstanding performance over the last two months. It was a moment Lionel Messi would have been proud of. He was excellent again here, as was George Carline who was a man of the match contender.

A first for Evans and Gunning

Captain Evans scored his first goal of the season on 17 minutes when he fired into the bottom corner from inside the area to give Chesterfield the lead. The skipper, has improved massively since boss James Rowe came in and has gone close to finding the net a few times before this strike. Meanwhile, Gavin Gunning made his first start since joining earlier this month. The 29-year-old, only just back from injury, played in central midfield and got almost 80 minutes under his belt.

Spireites (5-3-2): Pryzbek; Carline, Evans, Hollis, Maguire, Whittle; Gunning ( M Smith,79), Weston, Whelan; Dinanga (Mandeville, 63), Asante. Unused subs: Yarney, Taylor, Clarke.