IF Chesterfield could play every week as they do against Burton Albion, they would be celebrating leaving Saltergate at the end of this season with the League Two title.

The Spireites were outstanding for a second time against the Brewers, following up their 5-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy win in September with what was arguably a better performance in Saturday's 5-2 victory.

For all that the last two Chesterfield goals – and one of Burton's – came within a chaotic last couple of minutes, the home side could have been out of sight long before, after an irrepressible attacking performance spoiled only by some poor finishing.

Make no mistake, this was a bad day at the office for the Brewers who, after conceding only six goals in the eight games since the first Chesterfield pasting, were made to look as if they had forgotten how to defend again.

And that is why Spireites boss John Sheridan must be frustrated. He has a host of quick, inventive, positive forwards but the League Two table suggests that they are rarely playing as well as this.

Burton went into the game full of determination that they would prove they were a better side than Chesterfield made them look at the Pirelli Stadium.

But, for whatever reason, this looked like a day when they would never get going, right from the first whistle.

There was a strong wind in the Brewers' faces for the first half and an element of misfortune about both of Chesterfield's first-half goals but those factors could not hide the fact that Albion's usual passing game was missing.

They could not retain possession and they looked vulnerable every time the home side got forward.

Nothing much had happened before Tony James was penalised 30 yards out after 12 minutes. The free kick was played short for David Perkins to drive a shot that bounced kindly off John McGrath to find Danny Hall in space 12 yards out.

While Hall may have been upfield in anticipation of a header, his turn and shot was as lethal as any striker's could have been.

Donal McDermott, on loan from Manchester City and due to return to the Premier League club, was already giving the Saltergate faithful something to remember him by with his trickery on the right and a combination of Aaron Webster and Artur Krysiak kept out his shot from a narrow angle after 16 minutes.

Krysiak had to touch over a deflected cross from the other wing after 23 minutes but Perkins' corner led to a second goal as the ball ricocheted to the edge of the area, from where Mark Allott drove a low shot through a crowd of players to give the Polish keeper no chance.

A driven cross from Webster flicked off Richard Walker's head but Burton's responses were few and far between and they were relieved that McDermott hit a cross behind the Chesterfield strikers after another piece of terrific skill on the right.

The Brewers survived to half-time, mainly because Jack Lester dragged a shot wide from a very good position, but they were nearly undone within seconds of the restart, when Drew Talbot flashed a 25-yard shot narrowly wide with Krysiak nowhere near it.

Ryan Austin hit a 48th-minute free kick into the Chesterfield wall from 30 yards when Webster, bursting forward, was tripped after 48 minutes but Lester should have put the Spireites out of sight a minute later, placing a shot wide from 10 yards after another electrifying run from McDermott handed him the opportunity.

Krysiak kept Burton alive after 57 minutes with a quite brilliant reaction save to turn away Lester's six-yard header from Perkins' left-win free kick.

Russell Penn, on for Andy Corbett, and Shaun Harrad, for Walker, did not immediately make an impression but the Brewers had their best moment yet when Webster got into the box for a shot that home keeper Tommy Lee pushed on to his right-hand post before clutching the rebound.

Talbot twice shot wide as Chesterfield continued to look the more dangerous but the Brewers finally found a way through after 79 minutes.

Austin again drove a free kick into the wall but Burton stayed on the attack and, as McGrath went at the Chesterfield defence, the ball rebounded for Webster to hit a scorching low shot past Lee from 25 yards.

If there was briefly a feeling that another goal would earn the Brewers a get-out-of-jail point, it was dispelled within two minutes.

Mark Little's high cross from the right touchline looked to be over-hit but Lester was the only player who gambled on the wind holding it up and was rewarded as he gather the ball and took it round Krysiak before firing home.

It was a ball the keeper should have claimed in the first place and Krysiak, usually, is not found wanting in such situations.

A superb finish by Talbot, after a one-two with Lester, appeared to put the icing on the cake for the Spireites after 89 minutes but there were still two goals to come.

Greg Pearson, who had an afternoon when nothing went right for him, was tripped on the edge of the area on the right and Harrad flicked in McGrath's quick free kick from close range.

McDermott, however, was not quite finished and he skipped past James to thrash in Chesterfield's fifth with almost the last kick of the game.

It was the least he deserved for a fabulous performance but it ended a dispiriting day for Burton.

As long as they remain capable of turning in performances like this, talk of a play-off challenge is premature.