Chesterfield 1 - 0 Coventry: Dan Gardner gives Chesterfield victory over relegation rivals Coventry

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2017 by PA

Chesterfield came out on top in their Sky Bet League One relegation battle with Coventry after a Dan Gardner goal gave them a 1-0 win at the Proact Stadium.

Gardner settled a poor contest in the 77th minute but Chesterfield had to survive 11 minutes of added time following an injury to their centre-back Tom Anderson.

Both teams got into some decent positions but the final ball was poor until Chesterfield midfielder Jay O'Shea sent in a free-kick in the 30th minute that Ian Evatt headed just over the bar.

Ched Evans fired over three minutes later from a corner but Coventry went close in the 39th minute when a low shot from Kevin Foley was flicked just wide by Stuart Beavon.

Sam Hird headed another O'Shea free-kick straight at Lee Burge in the 42nd minute and Marcus Tudgay had the ball in the Chesterfield net in the 56th minute but had strayed offside.

There was a lengthy delay while Chesterfield defender Anderson was treated for a head injury before being stretchered off and Coventry had a great chance in the 72nd minute when George Thomas fired wide after a swift counter-attack.

It was a costly miss as Gardner fired Chesterfield ahead five minutes later with a shot from 25 yards that flew into Burge's top left corner but Thomas missed another chance when he fired over at the back post in stoppage time.