Team news

Trotman may miss Dale reunion Former Rochdale defender Neal Trotman is struggling to be fit for Chesterfield's must-win match against his old club.

Trotman, who completed a permanent move to the B2net Stadium from Dale in January after an initial loan spell, has been nursing a knee problem in recent weeks.

The centre-half will continue to be monitored, but veteran striker Jack Lester will definitely remain sidelined with the groin injury that forced him off in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley almost a month ago.

Chesterfield face a third straight game knowing that anything but a victory will see them relegated. However, a win on Saturday may also not be enough to prevent an immediate return to npower League Two if results elsewhere go against them.

Midfielder Danny Whitaker and striker Scott Boden turned the game against Hartlepool last weekend, with a goal and an assist respectively as the Spireites won 2-1 at Victoria Park to extend their stay of execution.

After impressing when replacing Jimmy Juan and Craig Westcarr, who have both been struggling with minor injuries, Whitaker and Boden could have put themselves in the frame for starting roles.

The future of Rochdale captain Gary Jones remains in doubt ahead of the clash.

Jones, Dale's all-time record appearance holder, was a surprise omission from the matchday squad ahead of last weekend's dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over fellow npower League One strugglers Exeter - a move boss John Coleman insisted was purely tactical.

However, rumours have persisted over a reported altercation between Jones, his manager and assistant Jimmy Ryan and the 34-year-old is not expected to feature against the Spireites, who are a point above Rochdale in the relegation zone.

Youth product Sam Minihan was one of three players to make his full league debut against Exeter, along with fellow full-back Marc Twaddle and on-loan Stockport midfielder Sean McConville.

All three will hope to retain their places, although McConville's place could come under threat from Joe Thompson after the latter came off the bench to set up victory with a well-taken 81st-minute equaliser.

Chesterfield vs Rochdale

Last modified 18:02 21/04/12

Spireites alive and kicking Chesterfield staged a dramatic late fightback to keep their slim survival hopes alive with a 2-1 home victory that sends Rochdale down to npower League Two.

The visitors took a 73rd-minute lead through Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, but Scott Boden equalised with 10 minutes left and Danny Whitaker completed the comeback five minutes later.

It means Rochdale are down and Chesterfield will join them unless they win their last two games and other results go their way - but a third straight victory means they are still in there fighting.

Rochdale were the better side for much of the match and deservedly went in front when Akpa-Akpro ran at the defence and bent a right-footed shot past Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee from the edge of the area.

Lee kept his team in it with a great save from Nicky Adams and that proved crucial because Boden levelled in the 80th minute when Jordan Bowery headed a cross down into his path.

Dale's fate was sealed when Franck Moussa rattled the crossbar from 20 yards and Whitaker pounced on the rebound to keep Chesterfield in npower League One for another week.