The Spireites side was bolstered by the return from injury of Jack Lester with Scot Boden making way for the talismanic striker in another wise unchanged Spireites line up.
The Spireites had the first chance when Dominic Green found fifth gear to outsprint Marc Joseph; he laid the ball to Barry Conlon who took aim with a curling 20-yarder which whistled just past Andy Warrington's far post.
Rotherham hit back on 16 minutes when Pope held the ball up inside the area before laying the ball to the onrushing Nicky Law. The son and name sake of the former Spireite managers though was denied by Spireites keeper Tommy Lee who sprinted out of goal to block with his legs.
Millers keeper Andy Warrington nearly gifted Jack Lester a goal the Millers stopper started to come for a high ball, slipped on the greasy surface allowing Lester an unexpected sniff at goal, but the usually deadly striker skied his shot from eight yards out.
On 37 minutes Rotherham threatened again. Micky Cummins slid a through ball into the path of Kevin Ellison the former Chester wideman who was subject to a failed transfer bid 12 months ago by the Spireites lost his composure and he thumped the ball well over the bar.
Half time 0 v 0
Ronnie Moore was forced into a change at the break with Gavin Gunning coming off injured to be replaced by the fit-again Dale Tonge.
On 66 minutes the Millers could have been ahead. Top scorer Adam Le Fondre could have made iot twenty for the season when sent clear on goal after a misdirected header by Aaron Downes, but the former Rochdale striker through on goal but his shot hit the onrushing Lee who blocked with his legs.
Downes was in the action again this time at the right end with a rare chance for the rather toothless Spireites. Downes hit a shot on the turn but Warrington tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch.
With the game seemingly heading to a stalemate the Millers launched an attack in the 90th minute. Pablo Mills drilled in a low cross which was well controlled by Pope who then turned his man and guided the ball beyond Lee and into the bottom corner to snatch the points for the Millers.
The defeat leaves the Spireites in ninth place after taking just 7 points out of the last possible 27 so there's certainly work to do for the management team ahead of the January transfer window closing on Monday
Full time 0 v 1
Chesterfield:Lee, Gray, Page, Downes, Goodall, Green, Niven, Allott, Artus, Conlon, Lester (Boden 74).
Subs not used: Crossley, Austin, Hall, Gritton, Harsley, Clay.
Rotherham: Warrington Joseph, Sharps, Mills, Gunning (Tonge ht), Law, Cummins, Roberts, Ellison (Marshall 77), Pope, Le Fondre.
Subs not used: Fenton, Harrison, Taylor, Broughton, Annerson
Attendance 4951 (1,475)
