There were just seconds remaining of four minutes of stoppage time when left-back Alan Goodall appeared inside the Rotherham penalty area to meet a high, hanging cross from defender Robert Page and he sent a looping header over Andy Warrington.

It ended Rotherham's run of six games unbeaten in both League and Cup which was their best start to a season since 1988.

It also followed the manager of the month award for Mark Robins, an award which often seems to be followed by defeat.

"I don't believe in curses but I do believe in defending crosses properly and we didn't do it on this occasion," said Robins. "Everything has gone right for us so far this season and this is the first bit of adversity, so let's see how we react to it."

Robins didn't seek any excuses but said it did make a difference that both his central defenders, Ian Sharps and Nick Fenton were off the field at the time of the winner. Sharps stayed off at half-time with a stomach strain, while Fenton went off with cramp five minutes from time.

It was a hard-fought derby with Chesterfield going all out to put behind them the memory of two home defeats already.

Warrington had to make good saves from Derek Niven, Jamie Winter and a late free-kick from Jamie Ward. Reuben Reid missed Rotherham's best chance after only seven minutes, while Micky Cummins put a close-range chance wide and Mark Burchill, in his first start, looked disappointed when failing to hit the target from 18 yards.

Chesterfield: Carson; Downes, Page, Austin, Goodall; Kerry, Niven, Winter; Currie, Ward, Lowry (Bowery 74). Unused substitutes: Lee, Picken, Robertson, Harsley.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Lynch, Sharps (Cummins 46), Fenton (Green 85), Nicholas; Harrison, Mills, Hudson; Reid, Taylor (Rhodes 77), Burchill. Unused substitutes: Cann, Broughton.

Referee: S Attwell (Warwicks).

Man of the match: Andy Nicholas.