Match Report: Dreadful Notts County performance ends in defeat to Chesterfield

Notts County delivered arguably the worst performance of the season as they were convincingly beaten 3-1 by Chesterfield in Sunday's televised League Two game at the Proact Stadium.

The Spireites, in the bottom two of the Football League, were hosting a side supposedly chasing promotion at the other end of the table, but you could easily have thought the positions were reversed.

Although the hosts began brightly, Notts forced a chance when a the ball was sent long into the box by keeper Adam Collin and headed goalwards by Shaun Brisley, though Aaron Ramsdale managed to tip over his bar.

It took Jack Lester's side just 16 minutes to break the deadlock, with Andy Kellett's corner bundled into the back of the net through nudges from Drew Talbot and Sid Nelson, a testament to County's shambolic defending.

At the other end, Elliott Hewitt spurned a great opportunity to nod Notts level, but Jon Stead's cross to his unmarked teammate was inexplicably put wide.

From the restart, Chesterfield headed up the pitch and a litany of errors at the back from Notts saw Zavon Hines claim the ball 12 yards out and rifle home to knock even more stuffing out of the beleaguered visitors.

The Derbyshire strugglers continued to dominate in the second half against a zombified Notts, with Hines volleying into the side netting before Alex Whitmore sent a header narrowly wide.

There was still a little more fight in Notts and they dragged themselves back to within one goal through a free kick from substitute - and ex-Chesterfield man - Dan Jones, which bounced inside the far post from wide on the right.

Nine minutes of stoppage time were then announced, and for a few minutes there was genuine hope that a second wind could see Notts grab an equaliser, or maybe even a Man City - QPR style comeback win.

But no. The Black and White Army were soon put out of their misery when another defensive mishap saw Chesterfield burst through, Kellett brought down by Matt Tootle in the box, a penalty awarded, and Kristian Dennis smashing the ball into the back of the net with Collin diving the wrong way.

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