Chesterfield fell to a ninth successive game without victory after Gateshead's comprehensive 3-0 win at the Proact Stadium.
Martin Allen made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Dagenham & Redbridge last Saturday; Michael Nelson, Jonathan Smith and the returning Charlie Carter came in for Will Evans, Robbie Weir and Zavon Hines.
The hosts applied some early pressure but Charlie Carter's scuffed shot from outside the box was the best chance that the Spireites could muster.
Gateshead took the lead in the 19th minute through Scott Boden, when the former Spireite profited from Nelson's mistake before prodding home past Shwan Jalal.
Chesterfield almost provided a swift reply when Curtis Weston found some space at the edge of the box. Unfortunately for the midfielder, his shot went wide of the post.
That was just one of very few chances for the Blues and they should have been 2-0 down on the half hour mark.
Steven Rigg was left unmarked in the middle of the box but his header was straight at Jalal.
Tom Denton's aerial prowess was trying to be used to the Spireites' advantage. He met Kyel Reid's cross but his header just evaded Lee Shaw, who would have tapped in from close range.
Disaster would strike on 43 minutes as the Heed doubled their lead. Rigg picked the ball up in home side's half before beating two defenders and firing a shot into the top right hand corner.
Deep into first-half injury time, Denton was the first to meet Reid's free kick, but Aynsley Pears pulled off a great reaction save to deny the target man his first goal for the club.
Just before the second half started, Martin Allen made two substitutions. Robbie Weir and Joshua Kayode came on for Reid and skipper Drew Talbot.
Zavon Hines also replaced Shaw a couple of minutes into the second half but his contribution was very short as less than ten minutes after coming onto the field, the winger was involved in a bad challenge and shown a straight red card.
This allowed the visitors to pile on the pressure. Boden almost grabbed his second with a long-range strike; his shot was eventually gathered up by Jalal.
The forward made no mistake just two minutes later. Boden latched onto Robbie Tinkler's cut back before calmly finishing past Jalal.
The away side continued to look for more goals; Rigg and Tinkler saw their efforts from outside the box sail just wide of the post.
Rigg almost bagged his brace after being let clean through on goal, but Jalal saved Chesterfield from even more embarrassment by saving with his leg.
Post-Match Verdict: A dreadful performance
Well, what is there to say. That was simply embarrassing.
Gateshead outclassed the Spireites in every single area and it seems like it is just another few steps back.
If there is one positive I can take from that game, it is probably that Joshua Kayode could be a player that helps us get out of this run.
However, if the other players don't step up, then it will be another relegation fight this year.
A win is so badly needed for Chesterfield against Maidenhead on Tuesday. It would also be refreshing to see a good performance.