Gary Roberts hails Chesterfield’s good away form after win at Bristol Rovers

Chesterfield first-team coach Gary Roberts hailed his side’s good performances on the road after the Derbyshire club claimed a 3-2 League Two victory at Bristol Rovers.

The Spireites won back-to-back away league matches for the first time this season thanks to two goals from Tom Naylor and a late winner from winger James Berry to keep the team within “touching distance” of where they aim to be come the end of the campaign.

Roberts, speaking in place of manager Paul Cook for media duties, explained that the latest victory was set up by Chesterfield’s fast start.

“We knew we needed energy and fight,” Roberts said. “Can we come here on this pitch, roll our sleeves up and perform? And they answered all the questions that were asked. I thought they were terrific and fully deserved their win.

“Their (Bristol Rovers’) tails are up but we started the game so well. We missed a few chances but got the goal and we started on the front foot and set the tone for the whole game.

“Our record on the road is good and we’re in touching distance now (of the top six). But the games are whittling down and those draws need to be turned into wins because we’ve drawn a lot on the road.”

Of double goalscorer Naylor, Roberts explained how important the 34-year-old was to the team, adding: “Tom Naylor had licence to go and make the box as we knew Sammy (Braybrooke) would stay underneath the game and dictate play and he’s (Naylor) got that knack of landing in the right spot and he arrived at two perfect times.

“He’s such a big player for the club. He has been since he walked into the club and even out of possession, he wins big headers and gets his body into places where others can’t.”

Bristol Rovers head coach Steve Evans blamed his side’s 10th league home defeat of the season on his side being jaded from recent games.

Shaq Forde’s first league goals of the season were not enough for the Gas to take any points at the Memorial Stadium.

“The first 20 minutes we were still on the training ground and Chesterfield could have been a couple of goals up,” said Evans.

“And I put that down to last Saturday and Tuesday – we looked a yard off it. Mentally tired, not physically.

“When Chesterfield pop it and move it like that you’ve got to be on your mettle.

“Saying that, after 25 minutes Shaq gets the goal and we’re back in the game and there’s nothing in the game really, apart from a poor referee for both sides.

“I think he had an horrendous performance but it doesn’t excuse our defending.

“We cannot be absent central defensively at any stage of the game, let alone a few minutes after we’ve scored.

“(Alfie) Kilgour and (Riley) Harbottle have been outstanding recently but they were far from outstanding today.”