Newcastle boss Alan Pardew claimed his side simply ran out of steam as they were battered 7-3 by Arsenal in a thrilling clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Theo Walcott grabbed a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Newcastle in a 10-goal epic that sent them to fifth in the Premier League.
Arsenal led three times through goals from Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski, but were pegged back on each occasion by Demba Ba (2) and Sylvain Marveaux.
But Walcott completed his hat-trick and substitute Olivier Giroud got a quickfire double to seal the win.
"I thought when we got back to 3-3 we should have shut up shop," the Newcastle boss said.
"The last 15-20 minutes was a fresh team against a tired team and perhaps a bit of inexperience on our bench resulted in the scoreline.
"We're just so disappointed that we didn't get something out of it before then.
"The goals we conceded before then were not, not good and that's been our problem.
"For 70 minutes it was pretty tight, I thought we were giving a good account of ourselves but their freshness and the brightness towards the end of the game was just too much for us and we couldn't cope."
An own goal by Tom Eckersley after 14 minutes set Rotherham on the road to victory but Craig Lindfield equalised five minutes before the break.
But two goals from substitute Daniel Nardiello in 12 second-half minutes put Rotherham back on track and Michael O'Connor added the fourth 14 minutes from time.
Evans said: "It was an important win for us. It was a big three points. For the first 15 or 20 minutes we were outstanding and if we had taken our chances we would have been five up at the 25 minutes mark.
"But it didn't go in for us and patience was wearing a bit thin and we got a bit disjointed and then their boy hit a strike that would befit the Premier League. From then up to half time we just couldn't get our passing game going.
"But the substitutes came on after the break and all of a sudden there was a spark. It helps when you get a goal and when that second goal went in I thought this could be anything we wanted it to be.
"It was a big win for us in the end because this was an Accrington team that went to Bradford and lost 2-1 with ten men and dominated.
"As soon as the second goal went in our fans saw the class come back to our game, but we are going to have games like this because we have been used to dominating teams at home and away.
"I want to thank the fans today for sticking with us, and over the 90 minutes a true reflection would be seven or eight because we missed four or five in the first 20 minutes."
Craig Lindfield's memorable strike cancelled out an early own goal by Tom Eckersley but three goals in the final 30 minutes gave the Millers a comfortable victory.
"We conceded some sloppy goals from long throw ins and set pieces, but that's what Rotherham do and they do it well," he said.
"But in parts we played some good football and we managed to get back in the game, but the goals affected us too much really.
"It was disappointing to go behind to the long throw because it was something we have talked about, but when you come to a place like this they are going to put you under pressure.
"And it is important you come through it and we did initially and we came out at half time quite confidently, but the lads need to learn and need to learn quickly.
"The lads are all in it together whether its good, bad or indifferent and we will stick together and work hard and we will always come back stronger, but if you don't take your chances at one end, you will always have a problem at the other end.
"We always knew December would be tough but in January I get the chance to attack things and affect things."
The Chairboys scored early on through Matt McClure in their only meaningful attack of the game to steal the points in a real Devon smash and grab raid.
McClure - back after a Boxing Day ban - won the game in the 11th minute just seconds after Argyle striker Nick Chadwick had seen his shot on the turn cannon off a post.
They had to withstand concerted Plymouth pressure from beginning to end to claim the three points, leaving player-manager Ainsworth to reflect with pride on their backs-to-the-wall efforts.
"When things are going well and we're attacking well, the game becomes easy," he said.
"But, with the onslaught we had to stand up to - in the second half especially - I thought the lads were absolutely outstanding.
"In its own way, it's probably one of the best performances under me so far.
"We didn't attack as well as we can. It was a real team effort, a real Wycombe performance. The lads were superb.
"It's a tough place to come and win. I've not won many times in my career here. It's a really good scalp."
The visitors survived a Argyle onslaught and left Home Park with a 1-0 victory secured early on through Matt McClure in their only meaningful attack of the game.
Plymouth made all the running, with Nick Chadwick, Robbie Williams, Paris Cowan-Hall and Conor Hourihane all coming close to making a first-half breakthrough.
It was much more of the same after the interval, with Cowan-Hall hitting the bar and both Chadwick and Darren Purse heading narrowly wide to frustrate Fletcher.
"We dominated about 90% of the game," he said. "Wycombe had one chance and scored, and we didn't score. That was about it.
"In everything apart from the final third, we were really good - the lads' effort and work-rate was great - but we didn't put the ball in the back of the net.
"That was the difference in the whole game. We dominated from start to finish but couldn't get that goal. We lacked a bit of quality in the final third, the make-or-break area.
"On performances, we shouldn't be anywhere near where we are but you deal with the situation that's thrown at you.
"It's obviously disappointing not to get a result because we've been on a good run and should have got a lot more."
The Minstermen bossed the first half but failed to take advantage with Matty Blair and Michael Potts failing to convert good chances to hand their side an early advantage.
Keeper Scott Davies somehow turned Blair's effort wide and minutes later Potts should have put York ahead, somehow missing the target from five yards.
"I thought we were excellent," Mills said. "For 90 minutes we've had a good shape about us.
"We played well at Chesterfield and lost, we played well again today and our players were excellent.
"We've come here and got ourselves a clean sheet which I'm delighted about, it's a good point, it should have been all three.
"But if you don't concede you don't lose. All you can do is create chances and get into the position to take those chances.
"We haven't taken some opportunities which have come along, but I'm not going to knock my players because I thought we were excellent.
"I'm proud of the performance they have put in."
The Minstermen bossed the first half but failed to take advantage with Matty Blair and Michael Potts failing to convert good chances to hand their side an early advantage.
The home side came into the game as the second half progressed and could have snatched the lead with ten minutes remaining, Steven Gillespie's shot cannoning wide off the boots of City keeper Michael Ingham.
"I would have said before the game a draw would be points lost but after that I would say we gained two," Alexander said.
"We didn't play well enough to win the game. York were the superior team in the first half.
"Second half we got at them a little more but I'm not going to lie and say I thought we should have three points because I don't think we should.
"We haven't asked them to do anything different from the last three games. We just lacked aggression and energy.
"It doesn't matter what tactics or formation you play if you lack that you're not going to make anything of the game. There are two positives to take, we've got a points and we've got a clean sheet."
Joint-boss Mark Robson departed the club on Friday, handing complete control to former Holland international Davids, who saw his side trail 2-0 at half-time following goals by Danny Coles and Scot Bennett.
But after a shoulder injury forced Davids off midway through the second half, his replacement Jon Nurse pulled one back before Andy Iro bundled the last-gasp equaliser eight minutes into stoppage time.
"That was a good result," he said. "If it is 2-1 and with more pressure on the opponent, everything is possible.
"We were very lucky and if you look at the chances, we could have been 6-0 down at half-time and I am not exaggerating. They could have really killed us off. We were lucky it was only two.
"It is very good for our morale and for us in the league. There were some good things and I said the last time we won away that I didn't feel we played that well, so I was happy we turned it around.
"In the first half we played very badly and second half we stood up. Mentally, we really mixed them up and I am happy with that progression."
The Grecians led two-nil at half-time thanks to goals by Danny Coles and Scot Bennett, but Jon Nurse pulled one back before Andy Iro bundled a last-gasp equaliser eight minutes into stoppage time.
"It sums up where we are at the moment," Tisdale said. "It was a tentative last 10 minutes. We ended up conceding very last gasp and it is terribly disappointing.
"I'm sure the referee had good reason to play eight minutes. I mean, there were injuries to Edgar Davids and Liam Sercombe, but I often watch replays of home games and we don't seem to get it. It seemed very generous, but there's nothing I can do to change it. I still expect us to defend well and see it out.
"We were terrific in the first half and we could easily have scored four or five. We had energy and the players did everything I asked them to do. Two-nil probably did a certain disservice.
"I could see we were getting deeper and didn't put pressure on the ball. Everyone could see that, but it's hard to affect that. Players have to be brave and get closer to the ball and be strong, but it's not always easy to do.
"We didn't do a lot wrong in that last 10 minutes, but the game changed and we probably had as many chances as them in the second half."
The 25-year-old went down in a heap after 31 minutes of his side's 3-1 win over Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday and was stretchered off in clear pain.
Manager Craig Brown described the injury as "serious" in his post-match interviews and it has now been confirmed as a break.
A message on the club's official Twitter feed read: "We have just heard the sad news from the hospital that Andrew Considine's injury has been confirmed as a broken leg.
"Everyone at AFC wishes Andrew a speedy recovery."
Tom Pope headed the visitors ahead with a clinical finish in the fourth minute, the striker's 23rd goal of the season.
Midfielder Jennison Myrie-Williams added a second with a ninth-minute close-range strike before Liam Chilvers felled Sam Williams and he pulled a goal back from the spot.
Louis Dodds bagged his third goal in three games six minutes before the break, but Scott Doe's late strike left all to play for during a final frantic few minutes.
"It's a shame we couldn't get an equaliser, but we were always chasing the game after we conceded those early goals," admitted Daggers' boss John Still.
"But I was impressed with our second-half performance and the way the lads battled to get back into the game.
"We knew it was going to be tough because they (Port Vale) have had a great season, that's why they're top of the league.
"But we'd got back in the game with the penalty and then conceded at the wrong time before half-time. That was frustrating.
"The second-half performance was very good, though, and I thought we deserved another goal."
But Adams stressed the hard work has yet to come with the Valiants keen to stay above fellow title-chasers Gillingham.
"It's great to be top of the table, the lads deserve it for their hard work," praised Adams. "But there's a long way to go and we've got to keep maintaining the same high standards I expect.
"The lads were excellent but I was disappointed we didn't put the game to bed in the second half.
"At 3-1 the game was never finished and them scoring again late on did make it harder than we'd have liked, but we showed a lot of character to stick in there and make sure of the points."
First-half goals from Tom Pope, Jennison Myrie-Williams and Louis Dodds were enough for maximum points, although a penalty from Sam Williams and an 83rd-minute goal from Scott Doe made for an interesting finish.
But Adams was adamant his side deserved the points and was understandably boosted by a second successive league victory following Boxing Day's 2-1 triumph over Rotherham.
"We've had a good couple of victories, it's just what we needed because we've got a lot of tough games to come," he added.
"I'm delighted with the players, though, they've given me everything they've got and we've scored some great goals.
"It was a great start with the early goals but we never killed of the game and, fair play to Dagenham, they kept working hard for the equaliser."
Spireites teenager Conor Townsend, on loan from Hull, was shown a straight red when he caught Will Haining with an elbow in the 64th minute.
It came after Townsend had scored his first league goal with a super free-kick to cancel out Chris McCready's headed opener.
"I think it was a fair result," Bentley said. "When any team goes down to 10 men and you've got 11 you fancy your chances, but fair play to them, they kept coming at us.
"It was an eventful game that was swinging both ways but I'm a little bit disappointed we didn't show enough desire to win the game when we had all our fresh legs on and pace up front.
"But you're not always going to play well and particularly at this stage of the year with a lot of games when we are stretched for bodies, sometimes it takes its toll on people."
The 19-year-old, who is on loan from Hull, was shown a straight red when he caught Will Haining in the 64th minute.
It came after Townsend had scored his first league goal with a super free-kick to cancel out Chris McCready's headed opener.
Chesterfield coach Mark Crossley said: "He's gutted, he's only had two league games and he's learning the game. If you know him as a person, you know he didn't mean to do it.
"He did catch him but I wouldn't say it was malicious because he's not a malicious player. If you do catch someone with your elbow, it could be a yellow but unfortunately it was a red. I don't think we can argue even though we know Conor didn't mean to do it.
"We are disappointed with the sending-off but credit has to go to our players that when we went down to 10 men we kept trying to win the game. Tommy (Lee) made a miracle save at the end so looking at it overall, it was probably fair."
