Paul Simpson was furious with his side's second-half performance, feeling that Town all but gifted the three points to a buoyant Chesterfield outfit.

"It was absolutely suicidal defending. There was an eleven minute spell where we simply handed the game to them. We drummed it into the players at half-time that we thought we'd got away with three defensive errors in the first half. We'd coped with everything they'd thrown at us and I said that there was only one way we'd lose today and that was by beating ourselves. If we didn't cut out those stupid mistakes we would get punished and that's exactly what we did.

"The first three goals were absolutely pathetic!" he said. "You don't stand a cat in hell's chance of winning if you're going to defend like that."

Although the sides went in goalless at the break, the Spireites were three goals to the good before the hour.

"I can give credit to Jamie Ward with their second goal which was a brilliant volley, but I'm not giving credit for any of the others. I think people will look at the second half and think they've played really well but we've handed it to them I don't care what anyone says," said a clearly angry Simpson. "If we hadn't made those stupid mistakes they might have gone under. The fans were starting to get on their backs but second half they showed what a good side they could be. We knew it was going to be tough here today 'cos they are a good footballing side but the first half we were comfortable and had a couple of opportunities ourselves.

"I thought we would have had a chance if we could do things properly but suicidal defending cost us. Eleven minutes in you're just looking to save any further embarrassment and keep it as tight as you can. There's got to be a weakness there because you can't have one 45 minutes like in the first half and the second being like a totally different side and that's something we will have to change. The only way we can do that is by changing players."

The boss accepted that he had a tough job on his hands and this was exacerbated by the levels of inconsistency shown by the players.

"I knew it was going to be hard when I got here. Today's game was never going to be easy and the trip to Morecambe won't be either. But unfortunately the way we are playing means that no game will be easy."

Simpson went on to give an injury update on loanee defender Graeme Lee who left the field with as lip injury.

"Graeme's gone to hospital with a badly cut lip; he's actually got a hole in the top of it and may have damaged his teeth as well. He got an elbow - and I'm not saying it was deliberate - but we'll have to wait for the assessment from the medical staff. We've had 2 or 3 players who've been bloodied today and maybe we'll have to get that fighting spirit right through the side.

"I've seen the results elsewhere and there have been a couple of draws but we shouldn't have to rely on other teams results. Until we can get our fingers out and get that result, unfortunately we are having to keep a eye out on what others are doing.

"I feel for the fans today. They've turned out again in fantastic numbers and gave us great backing in the first half when we gave them something to shout about by playing with a bit of desire. In the second half we've collapsed like a deck of cards and that's not what these people pay good money to see."

Following a warming down session by the dejected Town players at a deserted Saltergate, the manager was asked how he could rally his troops in time for a mammoth game in Lancashire on Tuesday evening.

"It's something that comes with the job. We need to start again. We need to lift them because the games come thick and fast at this stage of the season. Whatever side we put out needs to learn from the mistakes we made today and we can go from there."

The last trip to Morecambe ended in disappointment without a ball being kicked. If that disappointment is matched in 72 hours, the situation relegation wise will be looking even more bleak than it does this evening.

Martin Wild