In the run-up to tonight's game against Rotherham Lee Richardson hinted that his returning players couldn't expect to walk back in to the team that won at Milton Keynes last time out, and so it proved, with the only change being the one forced on the manager - that of replacing the injured Jack Lester with Steve Fletcher. Aaron Downes and Phil Picken came back as far as the bench, while the Millers remained unchanged from the side that beat Shrewsbury in their last match.

Rotherham won the toss and opted for first use of a strong wind at their backs, forcing the Spireites to kick towards the Kop in the first half. Bastians got outside his full back and crossed on 3, winning the game's first corner. Ward's flag kick saw the Millers break with Brogan and Niven was forced into a challenge that brought strenuous penalty appeals, but the referee opted to give the visitors a corner. Roche punched the ball clear for a throw.

Rotherham were rewarded for early pressure when they took the lead through Holmes on 9. O'Grady's shot was heading for Roche but was deflected; the Irishman parried it but only into the path of Holmes, who converted with ease from short range.

Bastians won Chesterfield's second corner on 12; Ward's flag kick drifted through everyone and Lowry's return was cleared. Ward got a shot in after Fletcher knocked down Bastians' cross, but Warrington was equal to it. Kovacs headed the ball out for Rotherham corner on 15 and Rooney was able to break; he found Ward, who turned beautifully,took the ball on and shot an inch wide. As Chesterfield began to press Bastians crossed, and the ball was whacked out for a corner before it reached Fletcher's waiting head.

Brogan was lucky to escape without a booking for a clumsy challenge on Lowry. The Spireites won their fourth corner after good work by Rooney on 24; Ward's kick flew an inch above Gray's head but the referee judged that the veteran stopper had fouled.

Both goalmouths were regularly threatened as the half progressed; the Millers pressed to extend their lead but Chesterfield were at least having their share of attacking play.

Rotherham were forced to withdraw Taylor on 35, bringing ex-Spireite loanee Peter Holmes into action. Rotherham won their third corner with two minutes to go in the first half but the kick flew over and out.

Halftime: Spireites 0 Millers 1. Attendance: 5417 (1449 away fans.)

As in the first half, the Millers hit Chesterfield early, with Joseph's cross being headed out by Kovacs for a corner in the first minute. Hudson's flag kick was cleared for another corner, which Brogan took, and Derek Holmes blazed over. Roche's first goal kick with the wind confused Coughlan but Sharps tidied up. Bastians' cross forced a corner on 48. The German took the kick himself but put too much onto it and it drifted out.

Rotherham extended their lead on 55 when Hudson converted a Peter Holmes cross from the right-hand side after poor defending prevented an early clearance from the Spireite box.

Niven went into the book for a foul on Hudson on the hour. The Millers won another corner on 63 and Roche caught it and kicked, forcing Warrington to collect in the opposite goalmouth.

Adam Smith and Phil Picken entered the fray on 63, replacing Rooney and Bastians. The Spireites retained a straight 4-4-2 with Smith and Lowry on left and right midfield respectively.

A reluctance by the referee to stamp out time-wasting pointed to a reluctance to properly control the game that blew up when an awful foul by Harrison on Leven went unpunished and a huge melee consequently broke out, involving players from both sides. Harrison, we remember, was the man who was sent off after putting Alan O'Hare in hospital while playing at Saltergate for Tranmere a few years ago. In the aftermath Peter Holmes was booked, and Fletcher was probably, too, but the ref was in the process of losing it and wasn't particularly clear. At the end of it the referee showed a comically abysmal loss of control by giving a free kick to Rotherham.

Niven's cross found Fletcher, who headed inches wide on 69, while Smith shot wide on 75. Sharps brought down Ward on 76 and was booked. Dale Tonge replaced Derek Holmes with nine minutes left, as the visitors wound the clock down. Smith fouled Hudson on 83 and was booked.

Full time: Spireites 0 Millers 2