Chesterfield kept faith with the team that beat Peterborough last Saturday. Loan signing Adam Rooney was given a place on the bench. Wycombe were forced into a change moments before the kick-off when defender Tom Williams felt unwell; ex Colchester left back Sam Stockley came from the pool of subs to take his place.
If Jermaine Easter was disappointed with Wycombe's reluctance to sell him on deadline day it didn't show, and he used his strength to get past Downes in the second minute before firing extravagantly wide from a good position. A couple of minutes later Lowry found Lester with a header and advanced from right midfield to take the return and shoot, but Shearer gathered in comfort.
Niven was brought down on the corner of the penalty area after a 1-2 with Lowry, but Leven's cross was cleared. Wycombe got up the other end and Kovacs fouled Easter some thirty yards out; The shot from the free kick was blocked but came to Johnson, near the penalty spot, and he shot; Roche could do no more than stand up to it and block it away with a leg, but he did that well. Easter set up McGleish close in but Downes did enough to prevent a powerful shot and Roche tidied up at the defender's feet.
Chesterfield weathered this short period of Wycombe pressure and came back on 25, Niven setting up Lester, but Jack kicked rather more air than leather. Lester began to grow in influence and took the ball through the Wycombe half before being brought down by Johnson, it seemed, although McCracken's name was taken at the next break in play.
Torres also came into the game more as both sides sought to run with the ball He weaved through a mess of Spireite challenges to cross rather fiercely for McGleish; it came fortuitously off him to Easter and Roche met his shot with a smart save. Chesterfield tried a training ground free kick move on 32; the three Scots midfielders mustered over the ball, some 30 yards out and, as Niven feigned a shot,Leven poked it through Winter's legs to Robertson, whose shot went over the bar.
Wycombe came back and won a rake of corners, three in all, that all met the clearing head of Kovacs. Chesterfield pushed the ball forward on the stroke of half time and Fletcher looked to find Leven with his head, but the Scot's control let him down a little. Still, the ball ran to NIVEN, coming in from right of centre, and he shot; it zipped along the turf, through a ruck of players and into the net by the keeper's right-hand post to give Chesterfield a precious but merited half-time lead.
Halftime: Chesterfield 1, Wycombe 0.
Chesterfield had managed to go in leading at half time despite never really stamping complete authority over the game. Alan O'Hare replaced the injured Leven at half time. Wycombe came out early for the second half but were still caught by Chesterfield's bright start. Niven broke through from midfield but was closed down; he still found Lester, in a crowd himself, although he got a shot off that was deflected, very nearly back into Niven's path. Lester broke on 52 and was inches away from supplying Niven with a golden opportunity, but there was danger at the other end when Downes was caught in two minds as a long ball held up long enough for McGleish to challenge. He got in front of the defender but screwed a difficult shot wide.
Downes went into the book for a harshly-given foul on Bloomfield near the penalty area. Picken timed his run from the wall to perfection to block the shot. Johnson went into the book for a foul on Fletcher in the 60th minute. Oakes replaced Bloomfield on 62.
Fletcher headed a Roche clearance onto Lester on 65 and positioned himself well for the return, but saw his shot saved. Sutton replaced Holt on 68 and Easter sliced a shot wide when well-placed. By and large, though, it was all Chesterfield, who were playing with great purpose and confidence. Fletcher and Lester were playing their different parts well, while Niven's energetic runs from midfield were causing consternation in the Wycombe rearguard.
Both forwards had a hand in Chesterfield's second goal, a minute or so after Adam Rooney came on for Lowry on 71. Niven found space on the right and put over a lovely cross; Fletcher challenged but the ball went over him and his marker to LESTER, who scored his fourth in as many games with a stooping header. Wycombe complained that Fletcher had impeded his marker by pushing him down as the ball came over, but the referee would have none of it.
Chesterfield lapped up what pressure Wycombe offered and harried their opponents with quick counter-attacking breaks. Lester got away to provide Niven with a chance that Shearer saved, and Rooney put one over the bar from the next break. Phil Picken had to be replaced by Gray on 80 and got a fine reception as he hobbled past the Kop. The only downer came in the form of a late booking for Jack Lester, his third of the season so far. Derek Niven was deservedly named Man of the Match.
Full time: Chesterfield 2, Wycombe 0.
