Just 7,937 came through the turnstiles, including around 300 visiting fans, and hardly raised the roof as goals from Jason Roberts and Alan Mahon fired them to victory.
Jewell has now appealed for the Wigan public to back his side in greater numbers and more vocally at the JJB Stadium as they challenge over the coming months for a place among English football's elite.
He said: "I have got to say that the atmosphere out there was nil.
"We are top of the league, and while I don't like criticising supporters, I think we deserve a little bit better to be perfectly honest.
"Sometimes it does make you wonder and stratch your head after all the hard work we are putting in, do the people here want to support a team that goes into the Premiership?
"These are harsh words but lets have it right, 7,900 for a team top of the First Division (Championship) isn't very good.
"They keep on singing 'Wigan's turning blue' and all that, but I would like to see a few more people in here.
"This is the first time I've said that, but I can't hide my disappointment with the crowd.
"Over the last two-and-a-half years we ain't done so bad, and I do understand it is expensive to come and watch football.
"But I think the players deserve better than what they're getting, certainly better than they got in this game.
"You could hear a pin drop while the Rotherham fans were singing and their side is bottom of the league.
"We have our work to do and get paid well, and we have to try and lift the crowd.
"But this is a team game and the fans are the 12th man, they really are.
"I suppose I will get slaughtered for saying all this, but I felt I needed to."
Jewell was much happier with what he saw on the field, Latics not really needing to break sweat to beat their struggling visitors.
They now have until a week on Saturday to savour being top of the pile, the international programme meaning a blank weekend ahead.
In that time the manager hopes to be able to strengthen his squad having had just 16 fit senior players available against Rotherham.
Two names touted in the media over the weekend were Fulham's Lee Clark and Preston's Dickson Etuhu, both central midfielders.
Jewell said: "We need to improve the squad, there's no doubt about that.
"But we haven't been sitting on our backsides for the last 10 days, we've been out and about looking.
"We've made one or two enquiries because the injuries we've had have stretched us.
"If we can get a couple of players in during this two week break, I will do, but getting players and getting the right ones are two different things.
"Probably with the injuries and the fact we had 16 fit players available against Rotherham, this break has come at the right time.
"We won't have any of the injured lads back in two weeks but we've got a couple of knocks from this game to clear up."
Reflecting on the win, Jewell added: "We created a lot of good chances, and without ever getting into top gear, I thought we were the better team throughout."