One game shy of his 500th appearance for Rochdale, skipper Gary Jones underlined his importance to the side by rescuing a point for the hosts to keep them above League One’s relegation places.

Spotland boss Steve Eyre was looking for a reaction from his players after a disappointing defeat at Exeter on Saturday, but the hosts were second best for long periods of the game.

Chesterfield were good value for their 1-0 lead at the break, Westcarr’s drilled shot from the edge of the area deflected past Dale stopper David Lucas by Neal Trotman. 

And but for Lucas’ point-blank save from Leon Clarke at the end of the opening period, the home support’s booing as the teams left the field at half time might well have been louder.

The mood around Spotland would undoubtedly have been brighter had Jean Louis Akpa Akpro taken the hosts’ best chance of the half after 14 minutes but the Frenchman was unable to match the quality of Andrew Tutte’s creativity with his finish, blasting an effort wildly into the side netting.

With Chesterfield looking the more likely to score next, Eyre needed a spark of brilliance to provide a turning point and it arrived courtesy of young substitute Reece Gray in the 74th minute. The 19-year-old’s intelligent pass behind the Spireites’ defence presented skipper Jones with a clear cut opportunity and Jones duly obliged, wrong-footing Greg Fleming with a confident finish.

Dale finished strongly, Nicky Adams frustrated by Fleming as Jones’ goal lifted spirits. It came too late in the day for a winner, and in truth the visitors were worthy of a point.

Rochdale: Lucas 6, Darby 6, Holness 5, Trotman 6, Balkestein 6, Barry-Murphy 5 (Gray, 66), Jones 7, Tutte 6, Akpa Akpro 5 (Adams, 46), Eccleston 5 (Kennedy, 78), Grimes 5. Subs not used: Kean, Benali

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