Dany N'Guessan grabs late winner for Leicester City at Chesterfield
The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until N'Guessan scored with a cool finish after Lloyd Dyer had capitalised on a mistake in the Chesterfield defence.
N'Guessan was also on target in last weekend's 4-0 romp at Shrewsbury, but this was a sterner test for City.
There were a couple of familiar faces to City boss Nigel Pearson in the opposition dug-out. John Sheridan, his former Sheffield Wednesday team-mate is manager with ex-City favourite Tommy Wright as his No.2.
City had kept clean sheets in their last two friendly encounters at Mansfield and Shrewsbury but Pearson did make changes to the backline from the 4-0 thumping of the Shrews.
Conrad Logan got the nod in goal with Wayne Brown and Aleksandar Tunchev starting at the heart of the defence.
Andy King and Matt Oakley were the central midfield two as N'Guessan reverted to a more familiar left-midfield role with Paul Dickov partnering Steve Howard up front.
Tunchev made an uncharacteristic error after five minutes, losing possession but Jack Lester's lob was comfortably dealt with by Logan.
At the other end, ex-Forest keeper Mark Crossley made an outstanding stop from Dickov's sharp effort after the veteran striker had run on to meet Max Gradel's through ball.
The Spireites had penalty appeals waved away after 10 minutes when Lester hit the deck after a challenge from Robbie Neilson.
The action was sporadic until Gradel brought out the best in Crossley after 22 minutes as he brilliantly pushed away the French midfielder's well-struck free-kick from 25 yards
Gradel was proving a bright spark on a dull and damp night and forced another good stop out of Crossley towards the half-hour and the veteran keeper also had to go down to his left to save from Howard's thumping right-foot shot.
Lester remained Chesterfield's most potent attacking threat and as half-time approached his fizzing left-foot shot went just over the crossbar.
City made three changes at half-time with Lloyd Dyer taking over N'Guessan's left midfield spot with the ex-Lincoln man pushing up into attack in place of Dickov.
Jack Hobbs replaced Tunchev and Chris Weale took over in goal from Logan.
In driving rain, City had a decent opportunity from a set-piece but Howard guided his header just over the crossbar from Gradel's cross.
The same player had another chance from a similar position after 63 minutes but his effort went just over the crossbar with Crossley scrambling to reach it.
With substitute Richie Wellens starting to dictate in midfield, City pepped up after a pretty lacklustre spell and came closest to scoring after 71 minutes.
King threaded a terrific through ball into the path of the on-rushing Dyer and his angled shot went just wide of the far post. By a long way, it was the best chance of the night.
Howard should have hit the target a couple of minutes but only managed to find the side netting after being set up by the industrious Oakley.
Howard was substituted seconds later as City went with just N'Guessan in a lone striking role with a five-man midfield behind him, and he made the breakthrough with five minutes to go.
Home defender Phil Picken made a hash of a clearance and Dyer exploited the error to burst clear and put N'Guessan away and he made no mistake.
Chesterfield: Crossley, Picken, Page, Breckin, Robertson, Allott, Niven, Gray, Lowry, Lester, Bowery. Subs: Bowery (for Boden 57), Currie (for Gray 57), Harsley (for Niven 75), Gritton (for Lester 78),
City: Logan, Neilson, Tunchev, Brown, Berner, Gradel, Oakley, King, N'Guessan, Howard, Dickov. Subs: City: Weale (for Logan 45), Dyer (for Dickov 45), Hobbs (for Tunchev 45), Morrison (for Neilson 56), Wellens (for Gradel 56), O'Neill (for Berner 56), Adams (for Howard 74), Powell, Verma, Burns, Chambers.
Ref: Jock Waugh (South Yorkshire).
Attendance: 1,973 (477 City fans)
Lincoln City claim they have thrashed out a compensation deal with Leicester City for Dany N'Guessan.
After weeks of negotiations, Lincoln chairman Steff Wright said he was "comfortable" with the deal.
"The talks have been very amicable between both parties, very professional, and I'm glad that we've avoided a tribunal" said Wright.
City would not comment on the situation but the Mercury understands there are still some unresolved matters between the two clubs because another of the player's former clubs, Rangers, are entitled to a 20 per-cent sell-on.
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