Chris Atkinson's first-half header proved enough to give Chesterfield all three points as Exeter suffered their fourth home defeat of the season.

Craig Westcarr beat two home defenders before crossing for Atkinson to head past home keeper Artur Krysiak.

Mark Randall and Westcarr were both denied by Krysiak as the Spireites pushed for a second after the break.

Danny Coles almost snatched an equaliser but his stoppage-time header was cleared off the line.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:

"It wasn't a good enough performance. It was a bit confused, it wasn't cohesive, we didn't have a common direction with our play.

"It was a very disappointing game, we've certainly got a few challenges ahead. It wasn't a good day for us."

"We weren't at a good enough level in our play. I know we need to improve and we'll try our best to do it."

Chesterfield caretaker manager Tommy Wright tells BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I'm very pleased... Their keeper made three or four great saves to stop us going two up.

"We got a bit deep in the last 15 minutes and gave the ball away cheaply. But overall I thought some of our play was tremendous.

"(Chris Atkinson) finished it, that's what he's good and that's why I brought him to the club.

"He's got three goals now and they've all been vital goals, winning goals, so I'm delighted."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Exeter

  • 01 Krysiak
  • 02 Tully
  • 04 Bennett
  • 06 Coles
  • 37 Moore-Taylor
  • 07 Sercombe
  • 08 Oakley
  • 11 Davies (Frear - 63' )
  • 14 Doherty (Amankwaah - 53' )
  • 12 Cureton (Bauza - 46' )
  • 19 O'Flynn

Substitutes

  • 24 Evans
  • 16 Amankwaah
  • 18 Frear
  • 22 Keohane
  • 23 Dawson
  • 21 Bauza

Chesterfield

  • 13 O'Donnell
  • 04 Forbes
  • 06 Hird
  • 12 Darwikwa Booked
  • 16 Ridehalgh
  • 08 Togwell
  • 15 Clay (Randall - 65' )
  • 17 Atkinson (Smith - 71' )
  • 25 Talbot
  • 11 Westcarr (Lester - 77' )
  • 37 Boa Morte

Substitutes

  • 27 Wilson
  • 03 Smith
  • 05 Trotman
  • 10 Whitaker
  • 23 Randall
  • 14 Lester
  • 29 Evans
Ref: Carl Berry
Att: 3,668

Match Stats

Shots

10 10

On target

5 8

Corners

6 6

Fouls

7 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:50 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:43

Luis Boa Morte challenges Jordan Moore-Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Artur Krysiak takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:06

Short corner taken by Tendayi Darikwa.

90:00 +1:39

Steve Tully takes a shot. Save by Richard O'Donnell.

90:00 +0:53

Liam Sercombe takes the inswinging corner, Scot Bennett takes a shot. Drew Talbot gets a block in.

89:50

Guillem Bauza concedes a free kick for a foul on Drew Talbot. Sam Togwell takes the direct free kick.

89:12

Tendayi Darikwa fouled by Jordan Moore-Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Drew Talbot restarts play with the free kick.

87:49

Steve Tully fouled by Nathan Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Tully takes the free kick.

86:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scot Bennett on Sam Hird. Richard O'Donnell restarts play with the free kick.

85:43

Liam Sercombe takes the free kick.

85:43 Booking

Booking Tendayi Darikwa booked.

85:22

Tendayi Darikwa concedes a free kick for a foul on Jordan Moore-Taylor.

84:33

Tendayi Darikwa concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Coles. Free kick taken by Jordan Moore-Taylor.

84:01

Tendayi Darikwa takes a shot. Artur Krysiak makes a comfortable save.

81:30

Guillem Bauza challenges Sam Togwell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Richard O'Donnell.

80:17

The referee blows for offside. Danny Coles takes the indirect free kick.

78:44

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Sercombe from the right by-line to the near post, Terrell Forbes makes a clearance.

78:26

Guillem Bauza takes a shot. Richard O'Donnell makes a fantastic save.

76:36 Substitution

Substitution (Chesterfield) makes a substitution, with Jack Lester coming on for Craig Westcarr.

75:53

Mark Randall takes a shot. Save made by Artur Krysiak.

74:09

Luis Boa Morte challenges Guillem Bauza unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shot comes in from John O'Flynn from the free kick.

73:05

Corner taken by Luis Boa Morte played to the near post, Matt Oakley makes a clearance.

72:39

Craig Westcarr takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.

70:39 Substitution

Substitution Chris Atkinson leaves the field to be replaced by Nathan Smith.

70:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scot Bennett by Craig Westcarr. Artur Krysiak takes the direct free kick.

70:39 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Smith on for Chris Atkinson.

70:39

Craig Westcarr gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scot Bennett. Artur Krysiak restarts play with the free kick,

67:10

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Luis Boa Morte, Close range headed effort by Sam Hird goes wide of the left-hand post.

65:29

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Craig Westcarr from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Kevin Amankwaah.

65:03

Mark Randall takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.

64:03 Substitution

Substitution Mark Randall on for Craig Clay.

62:31 Substitution

Substitution Elliott Frear comes on in place of Arron Davies.

59:28

Sam Hird challenges Guillem Bauza unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Liam Sercombe.

53:31

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Sercombe, Scot Bennett has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.

52:31 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Amankwaah is brought on as a substitute for Tommy Doherty.

37:01

The offside flag is raised against Craig Westcarr. Danny Coles takes the indirect free kick.

46:56

The official flags Sam Hird offside. Scot Bennett restarts play with the free kick.

46:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matt Oakley on Luis Boa Morte. Craig Westcarr takes the direct free kick.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Guillem Bauza replaces Jamie Cureton.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Cureton goes off and Guillem Bauza comes on.

45:00 +1:30 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +1:00

Chris Atkinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Matt Oakley. Liam Sercombe restarts play with the free kick.

42:42

Handball by Steve Tully. Direct free kick taken by Liam Ridehalgh.

40:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Coles on Luis Boa Morte. Sam Togwell takes the free kick.

37:01

The offside flag is raised against Craig Westcarr. Danny Coles restarts play with the free kick.

31:58

The assist for the goal came from Tendayi Darikwa.

31:58

Assist on the goal came from Tendayi Darikwa.

31:58 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Atkinson - Exeter 0 - 1 Chesterfld Chris Atkinson finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Exeter 0-1 Chesterfield.

31:31

Drew Talbot takes a shot. Blocked by Scot Bennett.

29:48

Effort on goal by Jamie Cureton from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

29:05

Corner taken right-footed by Arron Davies from the left by-line, Craig Clay manages to make a clearance.

28:34

Outswinging corner taken by Liam Sercombe from the right by-line, Terrell Forbes makes a clearance.

26:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tommy Doherty by Sam Togwell. Free kick taken by Tommy Doherty.

26:02

Craig Westcarr takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.

24:37

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Craig Westcarr misses to the right of the target.

21:31

Arron Davies produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

20:47

The referee blows for offside against Craig Westcarr. Danny Coles takes the indirect free kick.

17:12

Corner taken by Craig Westcarr from the left by-line, save made by Artur Krysiak.

16:23

Craig Clay challenges Jamie Cureton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Tommy Doherty.

15:53

The official flags Craig Westcarr offside. Scot Bennett takes the indirect free kick.

14:33

Luis Boa Morte concedes a free kick for a foul on Steve Tully. Steve Tully takes the free kick.

13:59

Liam Ridehalgh fouled by Matt Oakley, the ref awards a free kick. Liam Ridehalgh restarts play with the free kick.

12:49

Short corner taken by Luis Boa Morte from the right by-line.

12:29

Craig Clay takes a shot. Danny Coles gets a block in.

10:39

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luis Boa Morte on Tommy Doherty. Free kick taken by Scot Bennett.

10:24

Steve Tully fouled by Liam Ridehalgh, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Steve Tully.

8:36

Luis Boa Morte is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Steve Tully.

8:09

Jamie Cureton takes a shot. Blocked by Terrell Forbes.

7:40

Tendayi Darikwa challenges Arron Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. Arron Davies takes the free kick.

6:07

Corner taken right-footed by Arron Davies from the left by-line, save by Richard O'Donnell.

4:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Atkinson on Liam Sercombe. Free kick taken by Tommy Doherty.

1:59

Jamie Cureton takes a shot. Blocked by Sam Hird.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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