The Spireites had to settle for a point as they drew 2-2 with fellow play-off hopefuls Walsall on Saturday afternoon.
Chesterfield had raced into a 2-0 first-half lead with goals from Will Grigg and Dilan Markanday; however, Walsall fought back through Daniel Kanu and Albert Adomah to ensure the spoils were shared.
After Tuesday’s dramatic late 1-0 win against Salford, Paul Cook made several changes to the side, with the games still coming thick and fast.
Kyle McFadzean, Sammy Braybrooke, Liam Mandeville and Grigg all came in from the off against the Saddlers, who started the day in sixth place.
Chesterfield started the contest on the front foot with large spells of early possession and half-chances.
And with 13 minutes on the clock, Grigg gave the Sprieites a deserved lead.
Tom Pearce fired in a wicked cross that found the striker, who, at the second time of asking, found the back of the net from close range against his former club.
Chesterfield maintained their lightning-fast start to the game when they made it 2-0 in the 20th minute.
Markanday stole the ball from Evan Weir on the halfway line and never looked in doubt as he raced through on goal and slotted past Myles Roberts.
Jamille Matt attempted to get his side back into the game shortly after, though his lobbed effort never troubled Zach Hemming.
Against the run of play, the visitors did grab one back with four minutes left of the half.
Connor Barrett floated a cross into the area, and Kanu powered a header into the centre of the goal.
After the break, the visitors looked livelier as they searched for an equaliser, with Kanu, whose effort just missed the target.
And on the hour mark, Walsall found an equaliser.
A wide free-kick wasn’t dealt with, and it fell to Adomah, who finished from three yards out.
Mandeville looked for an instant response, but the midfielder didn’t trouble Roberts with his effort.
Kanu again searched for another goal for the visitors; however, his strike from the edge of the box was always drifting away from the target.
With five minutes left to play, Armando Dobra played a defence-splitting pass to Lee Bonis, but the forward was just beaten to the ball by the onrushing keeper.
Moments later, Bonis again had a strike from the centre of the box, which produced another good stop from Roberts.
Despite both teams probing for a winner, the referee called time on the game with the points shared.
Chesterfield: Hemming, Curtis, McFadzean, Swinkels, Pearce, Braybrooke (Ladapo 86), Stirk, Mandeville (Naylor 75), Markanday (Berry 75), Duffy (Dobra 66), Grigg (Bonis 66)
Attendance: 8,702
