Roy McFarland sprang a surprise by dropping Barry Roche for the Rotherham game, handing a League debut to Michael Jordan. The Spireites' second debutant of the day was Peter Holmes, who joined on loan from Luton in midweek, replaced Paul Hall and is no relation of Albert. Ex-miller Paul Shaw returned to the side for the injured Allison.
Chesterfield started with the confidence that you'd hope of a side with such a good recent record at Millmoor. Holmes burst through within minutes of the kick off and fed Shaw but he was closed out. Smith provided a good cross for Folan on 3 and the forward got a good header in; Cutler was forced into a good save to deny him. At the other end Henderson's 20-yard effort didn't trouble Jordan. Holmes got forward again on 5 and powered a 30-yard shot at the Rotherham net, forcing Cutler to parry.
Smith's 7th-minute cross was hoofed into the neighbouring scrap yard by Sharps. As the home side threatened to press Holmes showed ability to get defensive work in, too, tracking back and finding Folan. He found Shaw but the ex-Miller's control let him down when well placed.
Partridge was brought down by a rash Holmes challenge on 16 and Diagouraga put the resultant cross into the net but found the linesman flagging for offside against him, Facey and a team-mate. Going straight up the field from the free kick, Folan got the ball across and Shaw seemed certain to score but as Cutler missed it, so did Shaw, and the ball ran across the field and out for a throw.
Folan gave the Spireites the lead on 33. Shaw worked hard to fashion the chance, latching on to Allott's throw and teeing him up in a crowded goalmouth, and Folan lashed it home from around ** yards.At the other end Bopp ran forward and was about to shoot when Niven came in with a timely and effective tackle.
As the half continued the Millers found attacking moves stifled by a tidy defence and the linesman's flag. The Millers didn't handle the swirling wind particularly well, were not allowed to fashion a shot on target in the first 45and the home fans expressed their discontent as the half-time whistle sounded.
The Millers replaced Bopp with Robertson at half time. Chesterfield began the second half by threatening to extend their lead. The ball was whipped in to the far post by Allott and Downes got off a bullet header which screamed narrowly wide.
Rotherham made a second substitution on 53, bringing Newsham on for Partridge, who appeared to have picked up a knock. Jordan was called upon to do something on the hour, when Davies dallied slightly over a clearance and Facey tried to get to the loose ball. Newsham came closest to an equaliser with a rare moment of quality in a tepid second half, powering a rising shot just over the bar. At the other end Shaw chose to shoot when Folan was well-placed to receive a pass.
Hall replaced the injured Smith on 72. Niven fouled Woods and Brogan took out Picken on 74 as the game started to get a bit tasty. Mills was late on Shaw on 74 to concede a free kick which Holmes struck and which curled goalwards after looking like it might clear the bar in some comfort. Brogan did well to get through three defenders and take the ball to the edge of the box but Jordan held his nerve to claim the ball. Brogan felt that he was impeded by the defenders and said so to the referee, but referee Gallagher was unimpressed, booking the Rotherham man and giving Chesterfield a free kick apparently for a foul by Brogan himself.
The Millers were putting a little more pressure on but Chesterfield held firm and counter-attacked from a Rotherham corner through Holmes on 84. To Roy McFarland's visible anger the move broke down and the Millers came back at Chesterfield. Mark Allott took a free kick on 87 but put the ball over the bar. As the clocked ticked down Brogan lashed the ball goalwards; it beat Jordan but went over the bar. The final whistle went to the relief of the visitors, although the fact that the Millers didn't manage an effort on target throughout the ninety indicates that the Spireites won it in something resembling comfort.
