John Pemberton blames 'mad five minutes' for Chesterfield's defeat to Hartlepool United

Tom Denton gave the hosts the lead early in the second half from the penalty spot after Hartlepool substitute Ryan Johnson was adjudged to have handled the ball.

But the visitors equalised when Will Evans turned David Ferguson’s cross into his own net in the 64th minute before Johnson made amends for his earlier error by netting the winner five minutes later.

The Spireites finished the game with 10-men after Scott Boden was shown a red card for a challenge on Pools goalkeeper Ben Killip.

The match at the Technique Stadium was played behind closed doors.

On the performance, Pemberton said: “I was quite pleased up until the 65th minute and then we just had a five minute mad spell where we just got done twice down the side of us.

“I didn’t think they had an answer to us. Certainly in the first half I thought we were good. We looked strong, we were aggressive, we lacked a bit of cutting edge but that will come.

“Hartlepool are a good side, they have got good players and quick on the counter-attack, but I thought we handled that really well.

“I am just disappointed with the first goal - it kills us a little bit.

“We lost concentration for five minutes and the lads are disappointed but there were a lot of positives to come from it. I felt we deserved something out of the game.”

Woking are the visitors to the Technique Stadium on Saturday and Pemberton wants to see his side respond well.

“We have always bounced back when we have lost a game so that is the challenge now,” he said.

“Can we pick ourselves up? I am sure we can because there was a lot of good to come out of that game for us.”

Boden was sent off when he was adjudged to have gone in studs up on Killip, but Pemberton disagreed with the decision by referee Steven Copeland.

He said: “I don’t think it was a sending off. Boden is adamant he never touched him.”