Adam Dugdale scored an own goal on his home debut to gift Rotherham the win.
The visitors' goal came in unusual circumstances, Crewe keeper Rhys Taylor flapped at Kevin Ellison's corner and the ball hit the unfortunate Dugdale.
Ashley Westwood, Clayton Donaldson and Dave Artell all went close for the hosts but were unable to find a way past Millers keeper Jamie Annerson.
Adam Le Fondre could have doubled the lead from the penalty spot but Taylor was equal to the striker's effort.
Crewe boss Dario Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke: "I didn't think we were poor but we weren't good either - they got off to a terrific start.
"With a bit of luck today we would have come away with a point and been pleased with it, but we didn't get that bit of luck.
"When they announced the man-of-the-match I couldn't think of one because I don't think anybody was outstanding".
Live text and stats
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Crewe
0-1
Rotherham
FT
(HT 0-1)
Dugdale (og) 2
Crewe
13 Taylor
02 Tootle (Blanchett 58)
04 Westwood
05 Artell
06 Ada yellow card
08 Murphy
12 Bell
14 Law
23 Dugdale
07 Donaldson
10 Miller
Substitutes
01 Phillips,
03 Blanchett,
17 Shelley,
22 Davis,
11 Grant,
19 Mellor,
25 Powell
Rotherham
30 Annerson
03 Newey yellow card
06 Fenton
17 Mullins
24 Coid
07 Law
15 Ellison (Warne 82)
18 Bradley
21 Marshall
10 Le Fondre yellow card
20 Taylor
Substitutes
11 Brogan,
12 Green,
14 Ashworth,
04 Harrison,
08 Taylor,
16 Warne,
09 Pope
Ref: SwarbrickAtt: 4,301
CREWE
ROTHERHAM
Possession
Crewe43%
Rotherham57%
Attempts on target
Crewe3
Rotherham8
Attempts off target
Crewe8
Rotherham7
Corners
Crewe7
Rotherham12
Fouls
Crewe8
Rotherham11
90:00+2:54 Byron Law takes a shot. Blocked by Nick Fenton.
90:00+2:13 Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood from the left by-line, Header from close range by David Artell misses to the right of the goal.
89:37 Corner taken short by Paul Warne.
Final Result
89:02 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
Full Time
88:39 Paul Warne fouled by Patrick Ada, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Annerson.
86:21 Tom Newey decides to take the corner short, Nicky Law takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
84:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Bell by Tom Newey. Lee Bell takes the indirect free kick.
83:54 Shot from 12 yards by Ryan Taylor. Save by Rhys Taylor.
83:41 Mark Bradley takes a shot. David Artell gets a block in.
83:07 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Nicky Law from the left by-line, save by Rhys Taylor.
82:43 Outswinging corner taken by Nicky Law, Mark Bradley takes a shot. Blocked by Adam Dugdale.
Correction - 81:42 Outswinging corner taken by Nicky Law.
Correction - 81:42 Substitution Paul Warne is brought on as a substitute for Kevin Ellison.
81:42 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Nicky Law,
81:42 Substitution Kevin Ellison leaves the field to be replaced by Paul Warne.
80:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Clayton Donaldson by Danny Coid. Luke Murphy takes the free kick.
79:38 Unfair challenge on Danny Blanchett by Marcus Marshall results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Luke Murphy.
78:56 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.
77:24 Substitution Jason Taylor replaces Nick Fenton.
76:55 Penalty taken by Adam Le Fondre is saved by Rhys Taylor. Crewe 0-1 Rotherham.
75:54 Patrick Ada is penalised for a handball.
73:02 Outswinging corner taken by Nicky Law from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Lee Bell.
69:56 Corner taken by Ashley Westwood.
67:31 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Blanchett on Adam Le Fondre. Danny Coid restarts play with the free kick.
65:29 Handball decision goes against Shaun Miller. Danny Coid takes the free kick.
64:59 The offside flag is raised against Clayton Donaldson. Free kick taken by Jamie Annerson.
61:56 Effort on goal by Kevin Ellison from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
61:05 Shot by Luke Murphy from outside the box goes over the target.
59:38 David Artell fouled by Nick Fenton, the ref awards a free kick. Rhys Taylor takes the free kick.
58:55 Foul by Luke Murphy on Mark Bradley, free kick awarded. Nicky Law takes the free kick.
58:26 Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Law.
57:55 Substitution Matt Tootle leaves the field to be replaced by Danny Blanchett.
57:28 Ryan Taylor takes a shot. Rhys Taylor makes a save.
56:42 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Le Fondre by Patrick Ada. Indirect free kick taken by Tom Newey.
56:42 Booking Booking for Patrick Ada for unsporting behaviour.
55:17 Kevin Ellison takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post.
54:48 Kevin Ellison takes a shot. Save made by Rhys Taylor.
54:03 Effort on goal by Marcus Marshall from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
53:41 Kevin Ellison takes a shot. Rhys Taylor makes a save.
52:18 Adam Le Fondre challenges Lee Bell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ashley Westwood takes the free kick.
52:18 Booking The referee books Adam Le Fondre for unsporting behaviour.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+2:10 The ref blows to signal half-time.
41:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Taylor on David Artell. Indirect free kick taken by David Artell.
39:28 Effort from deep inside the area by Ryan Taylor misses to the right of the goal.
38:59 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rhys Taylor by Nick Fenton. Rhys Taylor restarts play with the free kick.
38:49 Corner taken by Kevin Ellison from the right by-line.
38:17 Danny Coid takes a shot. Blocked by Patrick Ada.
35:11 Unfair challenge on Danny Coid by Clayton Donaldson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Annerson.
34:49 Clayton Donaldson decides to take a short corner.
31:11 Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Clayton Donaldson misses to the left of the goal.
30:52 Outswinging corner taken by Ashley Westwood from the right by-line.
30:15 Effort on goal by Shaun Miller from just inside the area clears the bar.
29:37 Corner from right by-line taken by Nicky Law.
29:07 Unfair challenge on Danny Coid by David Artell results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Kevin Ellison.
28:48 Adam Dugdale fouled by Mark Bradley, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Rhys Taylor.
28:10 Ryan Taylor takes a shot.
26:46 Unfair challenge on Adam Le Fondre by Patrick Ada results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Nicky Law.
26:00 Effort from the edge of the box by Clayton Donaldson goes wide of the right-hand upright.
24:14 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood, David Artell takes a shot. Jamie Annerson makes a save.
23:37 Corner taken by Ashley Westwood.
23:12 Clayton Donaldson takes a shot. Save by Jamie Annerson.
21:56 Outswinging corner taken by Ashley Westwood.
20:35 Ashley Westwood produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
19:55 Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Murphy on Kevin Ellison. Tom Newey takes the free kick.
18:54 Headed effort from inside the box by David Artell misses to the right of the target.
18:20 Ashley Westwood fouled by Kevin Ellison, the ref awards a free kick. Luke Murphy takes the direct free kick.
17:50 Tom Newey concedes a free kick for a foul on Byron Law. Free kick taken by Ashley Westwood.
17:50 Booking Booking for Tom Newey for unsporting behaviour.
14:42 Kevin Ellison takes a shot. Luke Murphy gets a block in.
10:51 Outswinging corner taken by Nicky Law from the right by-line.
8:26 Luke Murphy fouled by Adam Le Fondre, the ref awards a free kick. David Artell restarts play with the free kick.
7:49 Shaun Miller produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
4:59 Ryan Taylor takes a shot. Rhys Taylor makes a save.
2:33 Nicky Law has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.
1:28 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kevin Ellison,
1:28 GOAL - Adam Dugdale:Crewe 0 - 1 Rotherham Headed own goal by Adam Dugdale. Crewe 0-1 Rotherham.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
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