Chesterfield came from behind to keep their League One survival hopes alive by beating Rochdale, who were relegated as a result.

Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro stroked Dale ahead from the edge of the box.

Scott Boden poked the Spireites level from close range before Danny Whitaker drove in the winner after Franck Moussa's shot hit the bar.

Chesterfield's third successive win leaves them four points from safety with two games left.

However, their inferior goal difference to Walsall means they will realistically need to win their remaining two fixtures to survive.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM:

Chesterfield assistant manager Tommy Wright tells BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I thought Rochdale were the better team on the day.

"But credit to the players, they showed a lot of determination and guts to keep going.

"We knew the results at half time, weren't going for us, but credit to the players and the manager.

"A couple of good subs again and both went on and scored a goal."

Rochdale manager John Coleman told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I'm devastated because we shouldn't have been beaten. We were the better team by a mile.

"Sloppy defending has cost us the game and our inability to win away from home is the reason why we've been relegated.

"I've had enough time to turn it round and enough opportunities to win enough games to stay up.

"I think we'd have stayed up if we'd have won. Two more wins would have been enough."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Chesterfield

  • 01 Lee
  • 05 Thompson
  • 06 Ford (Robertson - 33' )
  • 12 Ridehalgh
  • 22 Juan
  • 23 Randall Booked (Boden - 66' )
  • 30 Moussa
  • 09 Westcarr (Whitaker - 58' )
  • 16 Mendy
  • 21 Bowery Booked
  • 25 Talbot

Substitutes

  • 03 Robertson
  • 28 Smith
  • 07 Allott
  • 10 Whitaker
  • 19 Boden

Rochdale

  • 21 Edwards
  • 02 Darby
  • 03 Widdowson Booked
  • 05 Amankwaah
  • 12 Long
  • 07 Kennedy
  • 08 Jones
  • 15 Thompson (Grimes - 88' )
  • 16 Tutte
  • 27 McConville (Adams - 60' )
  • 26 Akpa Akpro

Substitutes

  • 23 Lucas
  • 17 Holden
  • 19 Minihan
  • 10 Grimes
  • 11 Adams
Ref: Pawson
Att: 5,954

Match Stats

Shots

7 12

On target

4 7

Corners

4 4

Fouls

18 12

Live Text Commentary

94:18 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:42

Scott Boden takes a shot. Matthew Edwards makes a save.

90:00 +2:30

Nicky Adams is caught offside. Free kick taken by Tommy Lee.

90:00 +1:58

Nicky Adams produces a cross.

90:00 +0:27

Handball decision goes against Jordan Bowery. Kevin Amankwaah takes the free kick.

88:56

Joe Widdowson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Noel Alexandre Mendy. Drew Talbot restarts play with the free kick.

87:35 Substitution

Substitution Joe Thompson leaves the field to be replaced by Ashley Grimes.

87:01

Shot by Franck Moussa from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

86:29

Corner taken by Danny Whitaker, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro makes a clearance.

86:24

The ball is crossed by Danny Whitaker, clearance made by Kevin Amankwaah.

85:10

Assist by Franck Moussa.

85:10 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Whitaker - Chesterfld 2 - 1 Rochdale Danny Whitaker fires in a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chesterfield 2-1 Rochdale.

84:15

Gary Jones takes a shot. Blocked by Gregor Robertson.

83:11

The ball is swung over by Franck Moussa.

82:24

Drew Talbot produces a cross, clearance made by Jason Kennedy.

80:39

Assist on the goal came from Jordan Bowery.

80:39 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Boden - Chesterfld 1 - 1 Rochdale A goal is scored by Scott Boden from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Chesterfield 1-1 Rochdale.

80:31

A cross is delivered by Gregor Robertson,

79:45

Foul by Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro on Drew Talbot, free kick awarded. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

78:11

Inswinging corner taken by Franck Moussa from the left by-line, Matthew Edwards makes a clearance. Shot by Franck Moussa from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

77:27

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Drew Talbot. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Lee.

76:47

Nicky Adams produces a cross.

76:05

Unfair challenge on Josh Thompson by Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro results in a free kick. Tommy Lee takes the free kick.

75:46 Booking

Booking Jordan Bowery receives a yellow card.

75:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Amankwaah by Jordan Bowery. Matthew Edwards restarts play with the free kick.

74:47

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Save by Tommy Lee.

73:59

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

73:42

Noel Alexandre Mendy crosses the ball, Joe Widdowson makes a clearance.

72:44 Goal scored

Goal - Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro - Chesterfld 0 - 1 Rochdale Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chesterfield 0-1 Rochdale.

72:08

Gregor Robertson fouled by Andrew Tutte, the ref awards a free kick. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

71:01

Nicky Adams produces a cross, Josh Thompson makes a clearance.

69:29

Stephen Darby sends in a cross.

67:54

The ball is delivered by Joe Thompson, clearance by Drew Talbot.

66:54

Jordan Bowery concedes a free kick for a foul on Jason Kennedy. Direct free kick taken by Joe Thompson.

66:01

Foul by Jordan Bowery on Kevin Amankwaah, free kick awarded. Matthew Edwards takes the direct free kick.

65:04 Substitution

Substitution Mark Randall leaves the field to be replaced by Scott Boden.

65:04

The official flags Andrew Tutte offside. Tommy Lee takes the direct free kick.

64:30

Gary Jones takes a shot. Clearance made by Josh Thompson.

62:32

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

60:56

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro sends in a cross, Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.

59:50 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Adams is brought on as a substitute for Sean McConville.

59:50

Josh Thompson concedes a free kick for a foul on Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro. Free kick taken by Gary Jones.

58:38

Sean McConville is penalised for a handball. Tommy Lee restarts play with the free kick.

57:45 Substitution

Substitution Danny Whitaker joins the action as a substitute, replacing Craig Westcarr.

57:45

The official flags Craig Westcarr offside. Matthew Edwards takes the direct free kick.

56:28

Jordan Bowery delivers the ball, Jason Kennedy manages to make a clearance.

54:21

Sean McConville takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Drew Talbot manages to make a clearance.

53:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Amankwaah by Jordan Bowery. Kevin Amankwaah takes the free kick.

52:39

Jordan Bowery has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

51:57 Booking

Booking Joe Widdowson shown a yellow card.

51:44

Unfair challenge on Craig Westcarr by Joe Widdowson results in a free kick. Liam Ridehalgh takes the direct free kick.

50:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Long by Franck Moussa. Matthew Edwards takes the direct free kick.

48:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Noel Alexandre Mendy on Gary Jones. Gary Jones restarts play with the free kick.

48:20

Foul by Noel Alexandre Mendy on Andrew Tutte, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Matthew Edwards.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +2:47 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +1:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Juan by Gary Jones. Mark Randall takes the free kick.

45:00 +0:04

Unfair challenge on Gary Jones by Mark Randall results in a free kick. Matthew Edwards takes the free kick.

43:23 Booking

Booking Mark Randall receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

43:12

Mark Randall gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Widdowson. Andrew Tutte restarts play with the free kick.

41:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Franck Moussa by Jason Kennedy. Free kick taken by Gregor Robertson.

41:02

The ball is crossed by Craig Westcarr.

40:29

Jason Kennedy has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

39:28

Jason Kennedy is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Lee.

36:14

Short corner worked by Sean McConville.

32:56

Stephen Darby concedes a free kick for a foul on Noel Alexandre Mendy. Liam Ridehalgh takes the direct free kick.

32:07 Substitution

Substitution Gregor Robertson on for Simon Ford.

32:07

Craig Westcarr is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Edwards.

31:50

Andrew Tutte takes a shot. Tommy Lee makes a comfortable save.

29:52

Stephen Darby fouled by Jordan Bowery, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Edwards.

26:09

A cross is delivered by Sean McConville, clearance by Liam Ridehalgh.

25:29

Jason Kennedy takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Thompson. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sean McConville from the right by-line, Noel Alexandre Mendy manages to make a clearance.

25:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Franck Moussa on Andrew Tutte. Direct free kick taken by Andrew Tutte.

22:32

Kevin Long takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Darby. Corner from right by-line taken by Franck Moussa.

21:39

Kevin Amankwaah takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Thompson. Outswinging corner taken by Sean McConville, Tommy Lee makes a save.

19:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jason Kennedy by Noel Alexandre Mendy. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Stephen Darby, Simon Ford makes a clearance.

18:26

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Liam Ridehalgh.

17:52

Sean McConville is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Tommy Lee takes the free kick.

17:10

Foul by Jimmy Juan on Jason Kennedy, free kick awarded. Sean McConville takes the free kick.

16:07

Sean McConville delivers the ball, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

15:21

Unfair challenge on Gary Jones by Jimmy Juan results in a free kick. Sean McConville restarts play with the free kick.

14:29

The referee penalises Jordan Bowery for handball. Free kick taken by Matthew Edwards.

14:03

Unfair challenge on Jimmy Juan by Jason Kennedy results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Lee.

12:22

Andrew Tutte takes a shot. Comfortable save by Tommy Lee.

11:15

Unfair challenge on Joe Widdowson by Mark Randall results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Widdowson.

10:48

The ball is sent over by Sean McConville, Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.

9:06

Centre by Craig Westcarr.

8:30

Foul by Gary Jones on Mark Randall, free kick awarded. Simon Ford restarts play with the free kick.

8:30

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Jones on Mark Randall. Free kick taken by Josh Thompson.

7:49

Noel Alexandre Mendy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Darby. Matthew Edwards takes the free kick.

5:00

Joe Widdowson produces a cross, save by Tommy Lee.

4:11

Mark Randall takes a shot. Save by Matthew Edwards.

3:40

Franck Moussa takes the inswinging corner, Kevin Amankwaah manages to make a clearance.

3:26

The ball is crossed by Mark Randall, Kevin Long manages to make a clearance.

2:27

Gary Jones produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

1:52

Joe Widdowson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Drew Talbot. Tommy Lee takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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