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Players prove a point as they regain lost pride. MATCH ACTION SLIDESHOW
Millers 2 Spireites 1
THERE were plenty of talking points beforehand, much of it about points.
Will Rotherham be docked 10 one day? Will Chesterfield be THE ones who will ultimately benefit?
They began only a point behind. Could they go two points in front on their favourite away ground? Then again, could the Millers stretch their lead to four?
As Rotherham were concerned, first and foremost it was all about pride. Personal and then local.
The eventually gutless capitulation at Bury was embarrassing; the criticism both scathing and stinging.
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Players arrived here knowing they would be under severe scrutiny from fans looking for any sign of weakness. 10 points off or 10 points on didn't matter. Giving it the lot against local rivals was what did.
No room here for being half-hearted, for not showing desire, for not going the extra yard where a few days earlier they'd barely managed an extra inch.
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Perhaps Spireites boss Lee Richardson suspected there might be some sort of reaction from the Millers, particularly with a local derby to focus the minds. Players seeking redemption often do that.
In that respect, the Spireites were unlucky enough to get this particular backlash from their neighbours.
On a much smaller scale, Chesterfield had to pull themselves round from their own first half fade-out that had followed a bright start.
Rotherham took what was to prove a winning grip in that final half-hour of the first half and held on despite Chesterfield's second-half push to get back in it.
For Rotherham watchers it was immediately evident that here was a different attitude, an extra determination.
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However, it was important for them to get a foothold in the game and who knows how things would have panned out had Jack Lester finished off, rather than blazed over, the sort of clean -through chance he has been sticking away this season.
That was after only five minutes and, although Rotherham had started brightly as well, Chesterfield had the more confident look about them.
But, slowly, Rotherham turned the half their way and when Chris O’Grady’s shot needed an important block from Phil Picken and Barry Roche made a flying save from Mark Hudson’s volley the Millers were moving into the ascendancy.
The superbly-flighted free-kick from Peter Holmes on 29 minutes to put them ahead was a critical moment in the game.
Chesterfield immediately lost Peter Leven with a head injury and then found themselves second best as Rotherham went desperately close when O’Grady, showing the sort of anticipation he’s been accused of lacking, got to a Jamie Yates cross and flashed a header inches wide.
A minute from half-time, Marc Joseph hooked a volley back over his shoulder into the far corner after Graham Coughlan’s header had been diverted away by Picken, and Rotherham’s midweek problems were behind them.
It needed a Roche save from Derek Holmes’ downward header to prevent a third in the opening minutes of the second half but it was no surprise that a pattern unfolded of Chesterfield pushing on and Rotherham, with the two-goal cushion, satisfied to keep them at bay.
With top scorer Lester, who didn’t play in Rotherham’s win at Chesterfield and didn’t particularly perform here either, kept under wraps, the Spireites had to threaten from elsewhere and a 25-yarder from left back Peter Hartley had Andy Warrington saving at full stretch.
It may just have been coincidence but after the replacement of Jamie Yates, who had been lively, with Ryan Taylor, who found it difficult to get into the game, Rotherham then seemed to make less of an impact going forward, although they were rather strangely helped on three occasions by needless concession of corners, Downes involved in a couple.
Perhaps they know how Rotherham struggle to score from them! Either way, it was poor defending.
When Steve Fletcher powered a far-post header over from a Picken cross, Chesterfield could have accepted their fate.
Instead, they gave themselves hope with 15 minutes left, a very sharp finish from Jamie Ward after headers from Winter and Fletcher.
Two minutes later, Janos Kovacs nearly got a header on target from a corner. But while it was tense, there was no real grandstand finish from the Spireites and the Millers stuck it out for a win their attitude had earned.
Pablo Mills reverted to centre-defence for groin victim Ian Sharps and did so with an inspiring performance while Graham Coughlan set a tone. Peter Holmes had one of his best games and there were much improved performances all round.
Chesterfield, given added freshness and enthusiasm by the recent introduction of some youthfulness, found those youngsters bending under the extra burden of one or two being below par elsewhere and Rotherham’s desire to improve their own performance.
It was Rotherham’s first league win at home to Chesterfield in 10 meetings going back to 1979 and only the second winning double - the last one being in 1928/29.
Spireites’ consolation is all that won’t mean much if the Millers fall into administration again.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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