The first loss since September ... on-the-whistle report: Accrington Stanley 1 Rotherham United 0

They fell to a second-half goal, suffering defeat for the first time in 22 matches as the home side took advantage of an uncharacteristic slip in their defence.

The Millers remain two points clear at the top of League One but missed a golden opportunity to stretch their lead as Covid postponements meant none of the other top five sides were in action.

After an even first half, Accrington were the best team and Rotherham will be kicking themselves for giving up their club-record sequence in such lack-lustre fashion.

It had all started so promisingly as Freddie Ladapo came close to giving them the lead three times in the opening ten minutes.

First, he was denied by a sharp stop from Toby Savin when he fired in a shot after just 56 seconds.

Then his header from Shane Ferguson's cross was kept out by an even better save before his follow-up effort was deflected for a corner.

In the Lancashire cold, the contest was fast and physical and the referee was allowing both teams to play.

Tenth-placed Accrington were just as eager to attack as the visitors and Millers goalkeeper Viktor Johansson needed treatment after tangling with Colby Bishop who later had a 20th-minute 'goal' correctly ruled out for offside.

Johansson saved from Ethan Hamilton on the half-hour mark while at the other end it took a goalline clearance from Ross Sykes to prevent Michael Smith's header from another pinpoint Ferguson delivery giving Rotherham the lead.

Millers fans had travelled in big numbers and they were packed into the open-topped away end and also down one side of the ground.

The first half finished goalless and Rotherham would have the benefit of playing towards their own supporters after the break in a contest that marked the halfway stage of their campaign.

They had made only one change to the side that had won at Cambridge United eight days earlier.

Wes Harding was on the right of a three-man defence and Rarmani Edmonds-Green, who'd suffered an achilles knock at the Abbey Stadium, was on the bench.

Tommy Leigh flashed an effort wide for Stanley six minutes into the second half and ten minutes later the same player was thwarted by Johansson's quick reflexes at the near post.

The Millers fell behind on 75 minutes when fatal hesitation in their defence, with Chiedozie Ogbene the chief culprit, presented a chance to Sean McConville whose scissor kick was out of Johansson's despairing reach.

Substitute Will Grigg had a late sight of goal but his effort was blocked and scrambled clear.

Rotherham trooped off beaten for the first time since September and could have no complaints about the result.

Accrington (4-1-2-3): Toby Savin; Yeboah Amankwah, Ross Sykes, Michael Nottingham, Mitch Clark; Liam Coyle (Matt Butcher 53); Tommy Leigh (Harry Pell 87), Ethan Hamilton; Jovan Malcolm (John O'Sullivan 62), Colby Bishop, Sean McConville. Subs not used: James Trafford, Lewis Mansell, Oliver Patrick, Jack Nolan.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Wes Harding, Richard Wood, Michael Ihiekwe; Chiedozie Ogbene, Ben Wiles, Dan Barlaser, Ollie Rathbone (Jamie Lindsay 70), Shane Ferguson (Mickel Miller 65); Freddie Ladapo (Will Grigg 74), Michael Smith. Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Kieran Sadlier, Josh Kayode.

Goals: McConville 75 (Accrington).

Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham).

Attendance: 4,870 (2,229).