Ched Evans hit a hat-trick as Sheffield United beat Chesterfield to leapfrog rivals Sheffield Wednesday into the automatic League One promotion places.

Lee Williamson's volley from inside the box gave the hosts the lead before Franck Moussa levelled from long range.

Evans netted a penalty three minutes after the break and then completed his hat-trick within 20 minutes with a sidefoot finish and a near-post strike.

Chesterfield, who won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Sunday, remain bottom.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson tells BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I thought there were some tremendous performances out there, but obviously when you score a hat-trick you're going to be flavour of the month.

"He (Ched Evans) is unplayable at times and you'd hate to be a defender against him in this type of mood.

"He's got a trick in his locker, he's got pace, power and he can hold people off, but he can finish."

Chesterfield manager John Sheridan tells BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I thought we did really well first half, I thought we were right in the game.

"The penalty is an absolute disgrace, it is a penalty, but it is a disgrace what we have done.

"The comedy of errors is unbelievable.

"You need leaders on the pitch and unfortunately we didn't have them at that time and it's been a big problem throughout the season."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Sheffield United

  • 01 Simonsen
  • 02 Lowton
  • 15 Collins
  • 30 Williams
  • 32 Hill
  • 08 Doyle
  • 14 Williamson
  • 27 McDonald
  • 28 Quinn (O'Halloran - 82' )
  • 09 Evans (Beattie - 79' )
  • 17 Cresswell (Hoskins - 61' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Howard
  • 26 Egan
  • 07 Hoskins
  • 10 Beattie
  • 29 O'Halloran

Chesterfield

  • 01 Lee
  • 02 Trotman
  • 05 Thompson
  • 18 Hurst
  • 28 Smith
  • 07 Allott (Randall - 69' )
  • 30 Moussa
  • 09 Westcarr Booked (Boden - 69' )
  • 16 Mendy
  • 21 Bowery (Ajose - 69' )
  • 25 Talbot

Substitutes

  • 12 Ridehalgh
  • 10 Whitaker
  • 23 Randall
  • 11 Ajose
  • 19 Boden
Ref: Hooper
Att: 20,159

Match Stats

Shots

13 12

On target

7 6

Corners

7 5

Fouls

12 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:10 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +4:29

Effort on goal by James Hurst from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

90:00 +4:18

Centre by Noel Alexandre Mendy, Matthew Hill manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +3:34

Franck Moussa takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.

90:00 +1:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael O'Halloran on Nathan Smith. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:19

Michael O'Halloran takes a shot. Josh Thompson gets a block in. Lee Williamson takes a short corner.

89:45

James Beattie challenges Neal Trotman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Thompson.

89:18

A cross is delivered by Mark Randall, Franck Moussa has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

88:50

The ball is swung over by Noel Alexandre Mendy, Matthew Lowton gets a block in. Short corner worked by Nick Ajose.

86:34

Noel Alexandre Mendy takes a shot. Neill Collins gets a block in.

85:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathan Smith by Michael O'Halloran. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

83:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Randall on Marcus Williams. Free kick crossed right-footed by Lee Williamson, clearance made by Josh Thompson.

81:24

Tommy Lee takes the free kick.

81:24 Substitution

Substitution Michael O'Halloran comes on in place of Stephen Quinn.

81:24

James Beattie concedes a free kick for a foul on Neal Trotman.

80:46

Michael Doyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Drew Talbot. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Mark Randall from left channel, save made by Steve Simonsen.

80:08

Corner taken right-footed by Franck Moussa.

76:54

Cross/shot by Kevin McDonald. Foul by James Beattie on Neal Trotman, free kick awarded. Tommy Lee takes the direct free kick. Will Hoskins concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Randall. Direct free kick taken by Mark Randall.

78:06 Substitution

Substitution James Beattie comes on in place of Ched Evans.

77:22

Michael Doyle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Drew Talbot. Mark Randall crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Will Hoskins.

76:54

The ball is swung over by Kevin McDonald, Kevin McDonald has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.

75:02

Noel Alexandre Mendy delivers the ball, clearance by Neill Collins.

74:29

The ball is delivered by Matthew Lowton, save by Tommy Lee.

73:10

Centre by Nick Ajose, Marcus Williams gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Randall from the right by-line, Neill Collins makes a clearance.

68:42 Substitution

Substitution (Chesterfield) makes a substitution, with Nick Ajose coming on for Jordan Bowery.

68:42 Substitution

Substitution Scott Boden is brought on as a substitute for Craig Westcarr.

68:42 Substitution

Substitution Mark Randall replaces Mark Allott.

68:35

Michael Doyle sends in a cross, Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.

68:17

Lee Williamson takes a shot. Blocked by Nathan Smith.

66:39

Unfair challenge on Drew Talbot by Kevin McDonald results in a free kick. Mark Allott takes the direct free kick.

64:16

The referee blows for offside against Jordan Bowery. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.

62:50

Assist on the goal came from Kevin McDonald.

62:50 Goal scored

Goal - Ched Evans - Sheff Utd 4 - 1 Chesterfld Ched Evans gets on the score sheet with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Sheff Utd 4-1 Chesterfield.

61:52

Noel Alexandre Mendy sends in a cross, clearance by Matthew Hill.

61:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Noel Alexandre Mendy by Matthew Lowton. Noel Alexandre Mendy restarts play with the free kick.

61:09

Ched Evans takes a shot from outside the penalty area and strikes the post.

60:12 Substitution

Substitution Will Hoskins joins the action as a substitute, replacing Richard Cresswell.

59:04

Assist on the goal came from Lee Williamson.

59:04 Goal scored

Goal - Ched Evans - Sheff Utd 3 - 1 Chesterfld Ched Evans finds the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Sheff Utd 3-1 Chesterfield.

58:06

Nathan Smith challenges Lee Williamson unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is sent over by Lee Williamson,

57:28

The ball is swung over by Craig Westcarr, save by Steve Simonsen.

56:27

The ball is delivered by Craig Westcarr.

56:10

Ched Evans sends in a cross, clearance made by James Hurst.

52:39

Effort on goal by Ched Evans from long distance goes over the crossbar.

48:29 Goal scored

Goal - Ched Evans - Sheff Utd 2 - 1 Chesterfld Ched Evans scores a power penalty. Sheff Utd 2-1 Chesterfield.

47:43 Booking

Booking Craig Westcarr is cautioned.

47:00

Noel Alexandre Mendy concedes a Penalty for a foul on Ched Evans.

45:54

Corner taken by Lee Williamson from the left by-line played to the near post, James Hurst makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Lee Williamson from the left by-line, clearance by Mark Allott.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:02 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

44:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by James Hurst on Ched Evans. Ched Evans produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Tommy Lee.

43:05 Goal scored

Goal - Franck Moussa - Sheff Utd 1 - 1 Chesterfld Franck Moussa fires in a goal from outside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Sheff Utd 1-1 Chesterfield.

42:12

Centre by Drew Talbot, Craig Westcarr takes a shot. Steve Simonsen makes a save.

41:21

The ball is crossed by Richard Cresswell, clearance by Neal Trotman. Corner taken by Lee Williamson, Jordan Bowery manages to make a clearance.

40:24

Richard Cresswell is ruled offside. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

39:35

Unfair challenge on Marcus Williams by Jordan Bowery results in a free kick. Steve Simonsen takes the direct free kick.

37:15

Assist by Ched Evans.

37:15 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Williamson - Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Chesterfld Lee Williamson scores a goal from inside the penalty box high into the middle of the goal. Sheff Utd 1-0 Chesterfield.

37:08

Michael Doyle crosses the ball.

37:01

Michael Doyle crosses the ball, Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.

34:01

Corner from the left by-line taken by Lee Williamson, save made by Tommy Lee.

33:33

Craig Westcarr challenges Kevin McDonald unfairly and gives away a free kick. Neill Collins takes the direct free kick.

32:19

The ball is delivered by Michael Doyle.

30:23

Craig Westcarr takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Lowton. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Franck Moussa, Josh Thompson takes a shot. Save made by Steve Simonsen. Corner taken right-footed by Franck Moussa, Neal Trotman has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

29:31

Jordan Bowery produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

28:39

Corner taken by Stephen Quinn from the right by-line, clearance by Noel Alexandre Mendy.

27:35

The ball is swung over by Craig Westcarr.

26:56

Stephen Quinn produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.

26:37

Matthew Lowton takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Tommy Lee makes a save.

25:27

Josh Thompson challenges Lee Williamson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Williamson takes the direct free kick.

24:43

The ball is sent over by Ched Evans.

21:10

Franck Moussa takes a shot. Neill Collins gets a block in.

16:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Franck Moussa on Michael Doyle. Lee Williamson takes the free kick.

15:02

The ball is crossed by Drew Talbot.

13:52

Shot from just outside the box by Craig Westcarr misses to the left of the target.

13:22

Ched Evans handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Tommy Lee takes the free kick.

10:31

Unfair challenge on Josh Thompson by Richard Cresswell results in a free kick. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

9:49

Noel Alexandre Mendy concedes a free kick for a foul on Marcus Williams. Direct free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.

8:55

Lee Williamson takes a short corner. The ball is delivered by Stephen Quinn, Josh Thompson makes a clearance.

7:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin McDonald on Franck Moussa. Direct free kick taken by Neal Trotman.

6:19

Long distance shot from Michael Doyle misses to the left of the goal.

3:10

Unfair challenge on Michael Doyle by Franck Moussa results in a free kick. Michael Doyle restarts play with the free kick.

2:23

Noel Alexandre Mendy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Lowton. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.

1:46

Effort on goal by Ched Evans from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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