Match File ... a focus on Rotherham United's next opponents, Chesterfield
The Millers take on their neighbours from just down the M1
League Two Rotherham United will be seeking to put their first win of the 2026/27 campaign on the board when Chesterfield make the short trip to AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday.
It’s the first time the two sides have come up against each other in league combat for more than 13 years.
The Spireites are expected to be without left-back Tom Pearce, winger Dylan Duffy and striker Will Dickson through injury.
Goalkeeper Zach Hemming is inching his way back from a sprained wrist.
One to watch
Dilan Markanday scored eight goals for Chesterfield in his first year with them last season. The 25-year-old, who started out at Premier League Tottenham Hotspur, played in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers, making 35 appearances for them in all competitions between 2022 and 2025. The Spireites picked up the wide midfielder as a free agent when he left Ewood Park and he has since featured in 49 games.
Form guide
Millers: LLD
Chesterfield: LLW
The Spireites lost 1-0 at home to Fleetwood Town on league opening day but recovered to win by the same scoreline at Salford City last Saturday.
In 75 contests between the clubs since 1923, Rotherham have 19 wins and Chesterfield 44.
Recent clashes
Jan 14 2025, EFL Trophy: Spireites 0 Millers 0 (Millers win on penalties)
Oct 3 2017, EFL Trophy: Millers 1 Spireites 2
Will Vaulks
Feb 16 2013, League Two: Millers 1 Spireites 0
John Mullins
Aug 25 2012, League Two: Spireites 1 Millers 1
Kayode Odejayi
Mar 18 2011, League Two: Spireites 5 Millers 0
Sep 25 2010: Millers 1 Spireites 0
Adam Le Fondre
Jan 26 2010, League Two: Spireites 0 Millers 1
Tom Pope
Sep 5 2009, League Two: Millers 3 Spireites 1
Danny Harrison, Le Fondre, Kevin Ellison
The last match
League One Rotherham headed to League Two Chesterfield during Steve Evans' second reign as boss for a Round of 16 EFL Trophy clash and reached the last eight via a penalty shootout. The Millers triumphed 4-3 after the game had finished goalless and went out 1-0 at home to Bradford City in the next round.
Opposition boss
Paul Cook is an experienced manager, having started out at Southport in 2006 and going on to take charge of Sligo Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic, Ipswich Town and Chesterfield. He is in his second spell with the Spireites and led them to the play-off semi-finals last term. Now aged 59, he has enjoyed plenty of success over the years. His achievements include League Two titles with Chesterfield and Portsmouth and a top-spot finish in League One with Wigan. He guided the Spireites from the National League back into the EFL in 2024.
Man in the middle
Sebastian Stockbridge is a referee development officer for Durham County Football Association. The Tyne and Wear official has been on the EFL list for 13 years and has risen as high as the Championship. His 38 games last season saw him issue 168 cautions and show four red cards... The ref at Wembley when Rotherham won the Papa Johns Trophy Final against Sutton United in April 2022, he last took charge of the Millers in February when they lost 3-0 at home to Cardiff City in League One.
The odds
The bookmakers favour the visitors, offering 13/10 on away win and 19/10 on a home triumph. A draw is 11/5.