Chesterfield fell to a 3-1 defeat at home against last season’s play-off finalists Crewe Alexandra, who were able to avenge August’s 5-0 defeat to the Spireites.
Shilow Tracey and Max Conway netted in the first half for the visitors, with substitute Dylan Duffy giving the Spireites hope late on before Tom Lowery sealed all three points in stoppage time.
Paul Cook made three changes from last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Swindon, with Darren Oldaker, Paddy Madden and Ash Palmer replacing Duffy, Liam Mandeville and Tyrone Williams.
Tracey could have put Crewe in front inside five minutes, but the striker fired over from 12 yards after Joel Tabiner drove past Jamie Grimes and cut the ball back.
Madden, playing in the number ten role, struck an ambitious effort wide, before Ryan Boot was called into action to deny Lewis Billington’s low shot.
Crewe then took the lead after 11 minutes, Tracey redeeming his early miss with a fine half-volley on the turn after the Spireites failed to clear their lines.
Bim Pepple did well to hold off his marker and work a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the 22-year-old couldn’t hit the target.
Bolton Wanderers loanee Conway made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute, allowed to drive at the Spireites defence unopposed and finish into the far corner.
Armando Dobra and Pepple drew saves from Filip Marschall before Grimes was on hand to block Matus Holicek’s effort for the Railwaymen.
The visitors continued to move the ball effectively and Tracey found the side-netting from a narrow angle. Jack Sparkes tried his luck from range and his shot rose over the crossbar.
Madden headed over from Sparkes’ cross on the stroke of half-time, before diving in to deny Holicek in his own penalty area moments later.
The Spireites came close at the start of the second half, Sparkes involved again to set up Jenson Metcalfe, whose header was denied by Marschall.
Crewe continued to search for a third goal, and Tracey and Jack Powell combined well to set up Tom Lowery, who curled a shot wide of the far post.
Boot pulled off an exceptional save with his right leg to keep out Billington from close range, before Tabiner was played through on goal but missed the target with only the Spireites goalkeeper to beat.
The hard-working Pepple glanced a header wide from yet another Sparkes cross before the Spireites pulled a goal back through substitute Duffy with three minutes remaining.
However, it was Crewe who scored a third in the 93rd minute, Lowery’s deflected effort on the counter attack consigning the Spireites to a third consecutive defeat.
Chesterfield: Boot, Sparkes, Grimes, Palmer, Donacien (Mandeville 62), Metcalfe (Fleck 69), Oldaker (Jacobs 77), Olakigbe (Duffy 69), Madden (Banks 69), Dobra, Pepple.
Unused substitutes: Thompson, Naylor.
Attendance: 8,919 (979)
