Halford strike sinks Leeds

A goal up at half time through Lee Frecklington, the Millers had Matt Derbyshire sent off on the hour and conceded an equaliser to Luke Murphy before the 89th minute twist.

Frecklington was scythed down by goalkeeper Marco Silvestri, who also saw red, and Halford sent stand-in stopper, defender Giuseppe Bellusci, the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-1 and send the home fans into raptures.

This fifth win in six, combined with MK Dons' defeat to Fulham, means resurgent Rotherham are now five above the Championship safety line with seven games to go.

Evans got a good reception on his return to the club where he won two promotions and saw his side start better.

Mirco Antenucci forced Lee Camp to parry from the first big chance but Warnock’s battlers were just starting to find their feet when they went in front on 27 minutes. Joe Mattock crossed and Frecklington stole in to prod home from close range.

Showing the resilience that’s been typical of them since Warnock took over, Rotherham closed out the half well after that, their only threat a drive from Antenucci that fizzed just wide with Camp beaten.

The visitors had a let-off at the start of the second half when a block denied Frecklington a second and Richie Smallwood sprayed the rebound into the kop but when Derbyshire was sent off for clashing with a bloodied Gaetano Berardi, the advantage had seemingly swung towards Leeds.

Antennuci remained their main threat, forcing two more good stops, and Rotherham dug in until substitute Luke Murphy’s speculative punt took a wicked deflection to beat Camp for 1-1.

That left them just over ten minutes to hang on and they had to defend hard, but Halford’s clincher provided the bonus and the perfect send-off for Tuesday’s trip to Bristol City.

Millers: Camp, Kelly, Mattock, Broadfoot, Doyley, Halford, Grant Ward (Richardson 90), Smallwood (Newell 78), Derbyshire, Frecklington, Best (Danny Ward 64)

Leeds: Silvestri, Berardi (Murphy 75), Bellusci, Bamba, Cook (Dallas 58), Bridcutt, Diagouraga, Taylor, Mowatt (Carayol 58), Antenucci, Wood

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Attendance: 11,418 (2,311 visitors)