IF anyone thought Wanderers had one foot back in the Championship, this was a 95-minute reminder there is plenty of work left to do.

Phil Parkinson tried valiantly to be the sobering voice of reason in the build-up and keep both his players and the club’s fans on message.

Flanked by distractions of fiver-tickets, promotion supplements and a delirious fan-base starved for some success to celebrate, his task was by no means a simple one.

The game itself would never live up to the hype. It is, however, disappointing the Whites chose this moment to turn in their most disjointed performance in several weeks.

Without the muscular presence of Gary Madine up front, Wanderers are simply not the same prospect. The fact they have won just once – against Grimsby Town in the cup – without him, speaks volumes.

But thanks to Fleetwood’s surprising defeat at home to Swindon no major harm was done to the automatic promotion hunt. There is a case, in fact, that it represented a well-timed slap in the face for anyone who felt the last six games were a foregone conclusion.

Parkinson will be hoping Madine patches himself up for tomorrow night’s trip to Southend United after picking up a thigh injury in the victory at Shrewsbury Town a week earlier.

The Wanderers boss talked openly about the need to play to Chris Long’s strengths if he played up front but, not for the first time, it failed to translate out on to the pitch. Chesterfield should take some credit, sitting deeper than any side has at the Macron this season and staggering their midfield in such a way that willing runners Darren Pratley and Josh Vela struggled to break through.

The reaction to reduced ticket prices shows there is still a healthy appetite in this town to watch a winning side. The attendance of just over 23,000 is the second-largest since relegation from the Premier League and even with the diminished gate receipts, the club expected a small increase in profit when catering and programmes were factored in, compared to a full-price game.

The question was always whether the stay-aways or the never-have-beens would return. And sadly, that is where Wanderers missed a trick.

Those who have followed Phil Parkinson’s side up and down the country this season know days like this do come along every once in a while.

A patched-up team also lacking Andy Taylor and Ben Alnwick struggled in possession. Filipe Morais remained a huge threat on the right but even he showed his human side, putting a dangerous ball into the penalty box only eight times out of 10.

For a team with slim hopes of survival in League One, the Spireites defended with poise and commitment, hardly giving Wanderers a sniff in a dreadful first half.

The one chance of note fell to the visitors – Howard pushing away Dan Gardener’s dipping shot and then producing fine reactions to divert Kristian Dennis’ follow-up round the post.

Morais beavered away on the right, Adam Le Fondre buzzed around hoping something would drop in the penalty area but in truth it was soulless stuff from the Whites, who lacked imagination in a way they haven’t for some time.

On the upside, they did improve after the break.

It still seemed a case of ‘if’ one of Morais’s set pieces, or Mark Beevers’ flicks from a long throw would fall in the right place but at least it created a buzz among the people who had sat quietly through the first 45 minutes wondering what they had bought into.

Pratley, Dean Moxey and Vela all had efforts blocked as Wanderers swung a series of corners into the Chesterfield box.

Keeper Thorsten Stuckmann was a commanding presence in the opposition goal, claiming more than his fair share in the air.

Tension started to build as the clock wound down. Or at least we assume it did. The big screen is great for 17th-minute tributes to poorly ex-striker Ivan Klasnic but its constant barrage of adverts and messages make it a nightmare to assess how long is left in a game.

Wanderers kept the pressure on, working the ball out to Morais time and time again. Chesterfield packed the box and the sheer weight of bodies prevented Wheater and Le Fondre forcing the ball over the line in one frantic goalmouth scramble.

Jon Nolan’s red card for a second yellow card barely had time to register before referee Eddie Ilderton signalled the end of the game, to a mixture of muted applause and stunned silence.

Wanderers know they have to be more convincing at Southend and Scunthorpe if they are going up automatically, whether that is with or without Madine.

Fleetwood’s backward step has opened the door to Bradford City to challenge for second spot, as if the Yorkshiremen need any invitation whatsoever.

A spell on the road away from the hysteria might be just what Wanderers need again to find that edge again.