Chieo's run, the second-half desire and promotion in touching distance ... the story of Rotherham United 2 Oxford United 1

THE biggest smile in football was on full beam.
You can see what it means as the Millers go in front. Pictures by Kerrie BeddowsYou can see what it means as the Millers go in front. Pictures by Kerrie Beddows
You can see what it means as the Millers go in front. Pictures by Kerrie Beddows

Chiedozie Ogbene was celebrating, Rotherham United were celebrating.

The Millers had just ended Oxford United's play-off aspirations in the hothouse atmosphere of AESSEAL New York Stadium and in doing so had reinvigorated their own push for the Championship.

Automatic promotion had been in their own hands anyway. Now, with two matches left to negotiate, it was very much in their own hands.

It was the last home date of the regular League One season and fans had stayed behind in their thousands to acknowledge the efforts of players who have given them so many epic moments since August and more than a couple of scares since March.

Ogbene - along with Ollie Rathbone, the epitome of Rotherham's drive and desire during a game they knew they had to win - led the happiness.

A happy ending hadn't always looked on the cards after Saturday's visitors had taken an early lead.

"Sometimes you can want something so badly that you want it too much and it can cloud your judgement," Millers manager Paul Warne said.

"There were times when we couldn't pick a pass because the lads felt tight, times when we had the chance to cross the ball and didn't."

New York was growing restless. Then something stirred seconds before the break ...

THE MATCH

Rotherham were roared off at the end of the first half and roared back out for the start of the second.

Rarmani Edmonds-Green's goal had changed everything.

With time virtually up in the opening period, the ball fell to Ben Wiles who seemed to want too long in possession. Suddenly Edmonds-Green was powering in a header in front of a gleeful North Stand after a deft shift of feet and precision delivery from his teammate.

It altered the mood, it altered the interval team talk, it altered the season.

Rarmani Edmonds-Green scores

"I gave the lads five minutes before I went in and I could hear them bouncing in the dressing room," Warne said. "They were giving it: 'We're right back in this, come on!'

"I said to them: 'If you're going to fail, fail being brave and trying to do the right things. Don't fail by tightening up because you'll live with regret if you do.' I didn't want them looking at their boots and worrying it wasn't going to be their day."

Bit by bit, run by run, tackle by tackle, Ollie by Rathbone, the Millers turned the screw.

Dan Barlaser, who had steered Sam Long's cross into his own net to gift Oxford a tenth-minute lead, shot over, captain Richard Wood was foiled by visiting goalkeeper Jack Stevens and Wes Harding couldn't get the accuracy he needed on a back-post header from Ogbene's cross.

On 66 minutes a pass was bouncing towards the byline and out of play when a blur of red and white sped down the left flank to overtake Luke McNally and keep it alive.

The defender, taken by surprise by Ogbene's flying arrival, resorted to foul means to halt the Rotherham man's dart into the area and Barlaser found his redemption from the penalty spot.

"I could have let the ball run out," Ogbene said. "But I'm the kind of player who wants to chase everything, give everything, because I see how much the defenders and the midfielders give to me.

"I pushed the ball into the box and my opponent put a lot of force into me and I couldn't stay up."

Dan Barlaser gives the Millers the lead

Wood, making his 200th league appearance for the club, thought a spot-kick should have come as early as the seventh minute when he was pulled down in the area only for referee Charles Breakspear to ignore frenzied appeals.

Viktor Johansson had to make second-half saves from Marcus Browne and Millers old boy Ryan Williams but Rotherham were dominant and Michael Smith, lofting a shot too high, and Ben Wiles, running on to Ogbene's defence-splitting feed and shooting too close to the goalkeeper, could have given the scoreline the sheen it deserved.

Wood performed goalline heroics but unfortunately at the Oxford end as he inadvertently kept out Barlaser's inswinging corner.

The victory felt significant, like a telling shift in momentum. Being in second spot, level on points with third-placed MK Dons but with a game in hand and a superior goal difference, was a good way to be heading into the final week.

"Sometimes football is simple," Warne said. "It's not about tactics, it's about working harder than the opposition, like Chieo did to win the penalty. Other players - not our players - might have thought it was going out for a goal-kick and left it but he didn't."

The boss paused before giving a perfect summary of the second half: "I don't want it to sound disrespectful but I just thought we had more in us than they did."

LAPPING IT UP

'New York New York' was first up on the PA system, followed by 'Freed From Desire' and 'I'm a Believer'. We were all believers.

The lap of appreciation was under way.

The skipper wandered round the pitch with his two boys, the youngest of whom was wearing a 'Wood 6' Millers shirt and bursting with pride as the kop sang his dad's song.

Smith held his young daughter's hand, Michael Ihiekwe had his son in his arms, Shane Ferguson, out for the season but keen to be part of the fun, had kids and crutches tangled round his feet.

Ogbene grinned some more, Ogbene danced some more. Even the world's dourest man, Jamie Lindsay, was laughing.

Richard Wood leads the lap of honour

From somewhere the winner of the penalty had acquired a jester's hat - very in keeping with the occasion after his joke of a contribution to that crucial goal.

"I always find it really melancholic when I see players walk around with their kids and all that," Warne said. "You know what I am like. It is a really lovely moment. My daughter, who is 16, walked with me, which she has never done before.

"I'd like to think that the fans have enjoyed watching their team play this season and enjoyed what they are trying to do for the town. I know that the lads really appreciate the applause."

As the players bade their final farewells 'New York New York' came on again.

Where had that second-half response, that show of character, that all-out push to stay in front of MK ranked in a season of many highlights?

Top of the list?

Head of the heap?

King of the hill?

You decide.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Richard Wood, Michael Ihiekwe; Wes Harding (Joe Mattock 80), Ben Wiles, Dan Barlaser, Ollie Rathbone (Jamie Lindsay 90+2), Jordi Osei-Tutu; Chiedozie Ogbene, Michael Smith. Subs not used: Josh Chapman, Hakeem Odoffin, Tolaji Bola, Josh Kayode, Georgie Kelly.

Oxford (4-3-3): Jack Stevens; Sam Long, Luke McNally, Elliott Moore, Ciaron Brown; Ryan Williams (Marcus Browne 70), Herbie Kane (Marcus McGuane H-T), Cameron Brannagan; Billy Bodin, Matty Taylor, Mark Sykes (Gavin Whyte 78). Subs not used: Simon Eastwood, Anthony Forde, Nathan Holland, Steve Seddon.

Goals: Barlaser og 10 (Oxford); Edmonds-Green 45+3, Barlaser pen 66 (Rotherham).

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Attendance: 10,415 (1,192).