The Spireites ran out deserved 3-1 winners against ten-man Bristol Rovers, with goals from Tom Naylor, Kyle McFadzean and Armando Dobra maintaining the Blues’ perfect start to the League Two campaign.
Paul Cook made three changes to the side that exited the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening. Naylor, Lee Bonis and Dylan Duffy were back in from the off, and a welcome return to the bench for midfielder John Fleck.
The Spireites dominated the opening exchanges in terms of possession, with the visitors content to slow the game down.
Rovers’ shot-stopper Luke Southwood was called into early action when he had to be at full-stretch to tip over McFadzean’s looping header.
Just before the half-hour mark, Dobra skilfully evaded two defenders and found Duffy, but his cross couldn’t find the onrushing Bonis.
Chesterfield then started to go up a gear, with Dilan Markanday the next to have a sight of goal, only to be hounded out by Rovers’ defenders.
The visitors’ first chance was a gilt-edged one, when Promise Omochere had a clear sight of goal, but his finish lacked any conviction.
With 39 minutes played, Rovers were reduced to ten men when full-back Joel Senior was given his marching orders for a last-man foul on Dobra.
It did not take long for the hosts to make the advantage count when Naylor rose highest to float a header into the far corner, giving the Spireites a deserved 1-0 lead in the 41st minute.
After the break, Chesterfield continued to press for the second goal.
Vontae Daley-Campbell’s lofted free-kick found the head of Bonis, but Southwood was equal to it at point-blank range.
Daley-Campbell again delivered a cross into a dangerous area; however, Dobra was unable to generate the necessary power with his head.
Against the run of play, Isaac Hutchinson grabbed a 68th-minute equaliser for the Gas.
Chesterfield failed to clear the corner, and Hutchinson squeezed his finish in from a tight angle.
Paul Cook turned to his bench as the clock ticked down, and Will Grigg almost had an instant impact, with his strike parried away for a corner.
From the ensuing corner, the Spireites retook the lead after a bullet header from McFadzean, with only six minutes left to play.
Chesterfield made sure the three points were secured in the 88th minute when Dobra applied the back-post finish to Liam Mandeville’s low cross.
Chesterfield: Hemming, Daley-Campbell (Mandeville 83), McFadzean, Dunkley, Gordon (Lewis 83), Naylor (Fleck 83), Stirk, Markanday, Dobra, Duffy (Darcy 63), Bonis (Grigg 83)
Attendance: 8,013
