Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.
The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.
However, Bim Pepple and Dylan Duffy wasted two big chances to double their lead and Walsall scored twice in three minutes from early second-half corners from Taylor Allen to turn the game around.
Jamille Matt hooked home the equaliser and Ellis Harrison nodded them in front before Levi Amantchi sealed the win on the counter deep into 12 minutes of stoppage time.
Defeat was Chesterfield’s sixth in their past eight away games, leaving them seven points adrift of the play-off spots.
“The game was there to be won and we just give teams a leg-up,” Cook fumed.
“If you are a winning team, a successful team, you defend, you see things out, you score a second goal.
“Well done to Walsall, we knew they would be a threat in certain aspects of the game, but we succumbed to it.
“The way we played the last 15 minutes, I’ve never been as embarrassed in my life.
“For a team away from home with senior players on the pitch, we actually helped Walsall get over the line.
“We gave corners away, gave free-kicks away, we had an opportunity with three minutes to go to put a ball in the box, what do we do? Go short again.
“We don’t understand a football match – you’re getting beat 2-1, you’ve got 2,000 fans behind the goal, give them something to feed off. Not us.”
Walsall, meanwhile, extended their cushion at the top to eight points after putting their recent stutters behind them.
“I thought we fully deserved the win today, it was a proper team performance on a difficult pitch, having gone behind,” said Walsall boss Mat Sadler.
“The resilience and character, the commitment everybody showed to get the victory was there for everybody to see.
“It was a big win against a good team, an incredible team performance. We had to throw our bodies on the line at times to protect our goal and we did that really well.
“Pitches are tough to play on everywhere at the moment and a lot of energy goes out, but everyone was desperate to do whatever it took.
“We know there will be loads of different situations to come this season – there are 15 games left, 15 different challenges and we won’t have it all our own way.
“We’re blessed with some good deliverers. Taylor’s corner-taking is brilliant and I love having him here.”
