A goal by Eugene Dadi shortly before half time brought Tranmere there second home victory in five days.
They were certainly the stronger side and there was some justification in the claim of manager Brian Little that a two or three goal margin would not have been out of place.
The goal came in the 42nd minute. Man of the match ???? was the creater with a deep cross after a neat interchange with Ryan Taylor. Dadi put the finishing touch to the move with a header.
Little felt Dadi was below his best on the day and was possibly feeling unwell so he replaced him for the last half hour with Calvin Zola who twice went close late on.
Carl Muggleton in the Chesterfield goal was certainly the busier keeper and made several good saves. The best of them came after 77 minutes when he palmed away a fierce swerving effort by Taylor.
But he had a luck on his side in the 81st minute when a shot was deflected against a post.
Chesterfield enjoyed their best spell immediately after half time but Mark Hudson saw a shot blocked and then Steve Blatherwick brought the best out of home keeper John Achterberg.
Iain Hume was always busy for Rovers. Skipper Jason McAteer was keen in midfield but was replaced for the closing minutes after collecting an 80th-minute caution.
Blatherwick worked tirelessly in defence for the losers and Niven had his moments in midfield. But the pressure told as Alex Bailey, Blatherwick, Hudson and Mark De Bolla were yellow carded.
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