Rotherham 1-0 Chesterfield: Pure genius helps Moore's super Millers leapfrog their derby rivals

Le Fondre's 54th-minute top quality finish helped them leapfrog the visitors into joint-second place and set them up nicely for another derby encounter against Bradford City at the Don Valley Stadium tomorrow night.

Quick thinking from left-back Tom Newey paved the way for the winner as he speared a free-kick out to the right, where Nicky Law earned a throw.

It looked off the cuff but was, in fact, a training ground rehearsed move as Le Fondre allowed right-back Johnny Mullins's throw to go beyond him before producing a lobbed volley with the outside of his right foot over goalkeeper Tommy Lee into the far corner of the net.

Chesterfield chief John Sheridan fumed over his side's inability to reorganise quickly enough but it was a somewhat churlish if understandable reaction to a goal which would have graced any level of football.

Counterpart Moore enthused: "When a game is as tight as it was today you need a genius and we have got one.

"They have top players but our top player won us the game because he produced that little bit of magic that no-one else could have done.

"It was an unbelievable goal. Alf would score goals for the 'Dog and Duck' and would score in the Premier League, there is no doubt about that for me.

"But if he wants to play in the Premier League he has just got to work a little bit harder and if he does then the world is his oyster. He can play at the top level.

"The harder he works the more goals he scores. The modern-day player just can't be a Jimmy Greaves now. You have to contribute a little bit more to the team and once that penny drops then it is going to be very tough to keep hold of him."

Rotherham fans had been treated to 6-4 and 3-3 scorelines in the previous two home league games but this performance was as good as anything they have seen all season.

Sheridan has built a talented team at Chesterfield and there were bound to be spells when they put Rotherham under the cosh but Andy Warrington produced three excellent saves to support the tremendous work of the back four.

Newey and Mullins and central duo captain Ryan Cresswell and the outstanding Exodus Geohaghon have only got together this season and the experienced Warrington said after their first home league clean sheet of the season: "You have to give credit to the lads in front of me. Everybody is new and it takes time to gel but overall it was a good defensive performance. Over the past three-and-a-half years while I've been here, we have had a good defensive record so when you get a new group of lads together it's difficult but we are starting to get to that level."

The Millers' back four were at their best in the opening stages and after Sheridan had gone 4-3-3 with the 64th-minute introduction of Dan Gray into central midfield and Dean Morgan into a central striking role flanked by Craig Davies and Drew Talbot.

The Millers weathered the storm as Cresswell's cajoling ensured they did not sit too far deep and Geohaghon's imposing presence generally provided a barrier in front of Warrington.

Overall, however, the Millers had been the more determined and forceful side, recently criticised midfield duo Danny Harrison and Jason Taylor responding well to Moore's decision to keep faith in them at Mark Bradley's expense.

Out wide, the contrasting talents of the direct Kevin Ellison and probing Law were a threat and Tom Pope proved the ideal foil for Le Fondre in his first full 90 minutes after breaking a foot in April, holding the ball up well and often being the first line of defence, blocking clearances and harrying defenders.

The only downside to Rotherham's first half performance was that they had not broken the deadlock. Harrison should have done when he arrived late to meet Ellison's cross but mis-timed everything and the ball bounced off him and wide.

Le Fondre fired a couple of attempts wide, Lee went down at the feet of Harrison, Cresswell headed over from a throw, Lee gathered at the second attempt from Taylor's low drive and Ellison fluffed a chance from a flowing move before Chesterfield posted their intent when Jack Lester finally got free but Warrington raced out to block the curled attempt with his chest.

It was still left to Lee to deny Pope, Law and Cresswell before the break but after finally being beaten it was Warrington who more than matched his efforts at the other end, including a dramatic double save to deny Morgan, to crown a rousing encounter.

Rotherham United: Warrington, Mullins, Geohaghon, Cresswell, Newey; Law, Harrison (Bradley 84), Taylor, Ellison; Le Fondre, Pope. Unused substitutes: Fenton, Green, Annerson, Warne, Marshall, Holden.

Chesterfield: Lee, Hunt, Ford, Mattis, Griffiths; Talbot, Whitaker, Allott, Morgan; Davies, lester (Gray 64). Unused substitutes: Redmond, Niven, Boden, Breckin, Page, Clay.

Referee: A Haines (Tyne and Wear).

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Take your pick

Rotherham had contenders all over the pitch – from goalkeeper Andy Warrington to strikers Adam Le Fondre and Tom Pope along with captain Ryan Cresswell, whose central defensive partner, Exodus Geohaghon, probably just pipped the lot.

Villain: Take your pick

In comparison to the Millers, Chesterfield's key performers did not step up to the plate and the first half 'show-boating' of Dean Morgan on the left flank was inexplicable, particularly with the scoreline blank.

Key moment

54th minute: Adam Le Fondre's sublime finish is worthy of winning any game at any level.

Ref watch

Alf Haines: First-class performance from the Tyne and Wear official, who was let down by one of his linesmen.

Verdict

Rotherham look to have got things together at the back and will be full of confidence ahead of another derby encounter tomorrow night.

Next game

Rotherham United v Bradford City, League Two, tomorrow, 7.45pm.

Quote of the day

Alf would score goals for the 'Dog and Duck' and would score in the Premier League, there is no doubt about that for me.

– Ronnie Moore on star striker Adam Le Fondre.

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For full reports read Monday's Yorkshire Post.