City 0, Chesterfield 1

THE play-offs remain agonisingly out of reach for the Bantams, who missed their chance to seize sixth spot on a disappointing night at Valley Parade.

While Phil Parkinson continues to maintain a diplomatic silence on the promotion picture, the tasty prize of a League One play-off position going into Easter was on offer for the victor.

But it was the Spireites who stole a march on the pack as a scruffy goal edged a scruffy match – and it was their only shot on target. Chesterfield were then content to hold what they had, collecting five bookings on the way to three crucial points.

To add salt to the City wounds, their goal came from an error by Gary MacKenzie – and was finished by a player who would not have been on the pitch but for an injury in the warm-up.

The fact the two teams had started the evening locked on points and goal difference was evident in the tight nature of the contest and made defeat tougher to take going into a demanding weekend double-header against Doncaster and Preston.

Parkinson had made the two expected changes from the win over Oldham that restored hope among the Valley Parade faithful.

MacKenzie again covered for the injured Andrew Davies to make his sixth start on loan, while Billy Knott's lively substitute appearance at the weekend – when he had a hand in both goals – earned him the recall over Mark Yeates.

Two of the home side hit personal landmarks – Gary Liddle marked his 350th career league start and Jon Stead brought up 300. But they were put firmly in the shade by Liddle's former Hartlepool team-mate Ritchie Humphreys, whose recall for Chesterfield made it 728 professional outings for the 37-year-old.

Considering the high stakes, the opening period saw only one shot in anger – an ambitious 45-yard lob from Gary Roberts that sailed harmlessly into the Kop.

Knott was soon into the action with a neat interchange with Billy Clarke on City's left but the cross just eluded the outstretched boot of James Hanson.

Then the striker was caught on his heels on the edge of the penalty area as Stead chased down a ball on the byline before looking imploringly at his partner when he kept it alive in the Chesterfield goalmouth.

It was scrappy stuff from both teams, summed up when Jimmy Ryan's drive struck the heel of team-mate Byron Harrison and Sam Clucas dragged a snapshot wide from inside the D.

It took 26 minutes for City to muster their first attempt, Hanson steering Knott's cross towards Stead, whose waist-high volley was comfortably saved.

The pitch was taking no prisoners as expected, although considering the wild weather earlier in the day, the surface seemed no worse than on Saturday. Thankfully there was no repeat of the pre-match hail storm and the game was played out for the main part under a clear sky – barring a late flurry of snow.

Chances remained at a premium, although City did up the ante as half-time approached and won the first two corners of the evening.

There was not much width to their play, with Liddle tucking in on the left, but Knott did exploit the space out wide with a driving run and cross which brought the crowd briefly to life.

Chris Routis then released Stephen Darby on the right and his cross was turned over the bar by Stead.

It was still poor fare for an understandably muted audience – and the mood sunk when City fell behind in self-inflicted fashion in added time before the break.

Rory McArdle got the initial head to a ball aimed towards the home box and then MacKenzie looked to steer it back to keeper Ben Williams.

But the Scot did not get enough power behind it and that allowed Harrison to nip in between, round the keeper and slot home his first Chesterfield goal since joining from Cheltenham.

Parkinson had praised MacKenzie's leadership qualities leading up to the game and the big Scot had hardly put a foot wrong previously. He paid a heavy price for the first slip-up of his loan spell.

Ironically, Harrison had not even been down to play and was hurriedly promoted from the bench when intended starter Armand Gnanduillet suffered a knock in the warm-up.

It almost got worse for City from Chesterfield's first corner a couple of minutes after the restart. Ian Evatt's header was turned home at the post by Sam Hird – but the Spireites' celebrations were quickly cut short by a raised flag for offside.

City v Chesterfield match pictures

There was a bit more noise around the place and City threatened from a Routis free-kick. The Frenchman's deep set-piece was nodded back by Darby and MacKenzie's close-range effort was smothered.

City looked to build momentum and Stead appeared to be dragged down by Evatt as they tangled for Knott's whipped-in cross. But the home penalty shouts fell on familiar deaf ears – much to the frustration of Parkinson, who screamed his protest at fourth official Mark Duncan.

Routis fired across goal from the angle of the box before popping up in his own penalty area to defuse a potential Chesterfield counter-attack.

Sam Morsy then seized on a loose touch from Knott to leave Routis in his slipstream but Liddle tracked back to hold him up.

Stead worked room for a shot on the turn but nothing to worry Keighley-born keeper Tommy Lee, who then confidently clutched a looping header from Hanson.

Parkinson introduced Yeates and Tony McMahon for MacKenzie and Routis but City could not find a way back.

Francois Zoko, City's final change, went down in the box and there was brief hope as referee Jeremy Simpson blew – but booked the sub for diving.

City thought they had grabbed an equaliser when Knott set up McMahon but Lee blocked with his legs through a crowd. It was a crucial save from the local lad.

There was one final half-chance for the on-loan Blackpool defender from a corner in the last of the six minutes tagged on. But McMahon could not direct his header, which bounced past the post.

Attendance: 12,551