Debut joy as Millers finally win again ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 2 Northampton Town 1

New boy Emmanuel Adegboyega hadn't been on the pitch for long when he bagged the winning goal in the game in which Rotherham United simply had to take three points.

The Millers had been behind, the crowd had been angry.

But young Harry Gray had opened his account for his loan club and, now, Adegboyega was performing an impromptu jig at the North Stand after his glorious late impact.

Much-needed life had been breathed into the fight for League One survival following a rousing second-half comeback to end a run of 11 winless third-tier matches.

At one stage earlier in the evening, a defeat that would have left people wondering where Rotherham went from here had looked on the cards.

Now, finally, they can look upwards as the gap to safety narrowed to two points.

Matt Hamshaw's men had started quickly and within the first six minutes Kian Spence had seen his shot deflected for a corner and a Zak Jules effort had been blocked.

However, some of the snap went out of their game and Conor McCarthy headed wide for the visitors.

The home team ramped up the pace again, but Sam Nombe picked his spot too carefully and gave Ross Fitzsimons an easy save and Joe Powell just failed to get his head to a Joe Rafferty cross.

Powell fizzed a shot just over from distance before the Millers fell behind in the 26th minute.

The New York old boy found the bottom corner in front of the North Stand after Sam Hoskins' ball into the area had been flicked on by Jon Guthrie and then, mindful of his past associations, didn't celebrate.

On a cold, wet January evening, many fans had chosen to give the game a miss and there were empty seats all around the ground. Northampton's goal added to the sense of restlessness and boos began to ring out at misplaced passes.

Before kick-off, there had been a minute's applause in memory of Terry Stewart - the twin brother of chairman Tony and huge Millers fan - who recently passed away at the age of 80 following a brave battle against illness.

The club's owner and other members of the Stewart family were at pitchside for the tribute.

Marvin Kaleta departed with another injury and, soon afterwards, Eaves wasn't far away from a second goal when he reached a Nesta Guiness-Walker cross.

The level of dissatisfaction in the stands rose further as half-time approached and there was another round of booing at the break.

Rotherham had made one change to the starting 11 from last Saturday's draw with AFC Wimbledon, bringing in Shaun McWilliams for Dru Yearwood in midfield.

There were wholesale changes on the bench, where Jordan Hugill, Sean Raggett and Liam Kelly were all missing. In their place came new boy Emmanuel Adegboyega, fit-again Dan Gore - who has been such an important player for the Millers this season - and Jack Holmes.

Soon after the restart, Dean Campbell drove the ball just off target for Town, but the Millers rallied and were level in the 58th minute when Gray neatly headed in Powell's corner at the near post.

Spirits were lifted on and off the pitch and, within seconds, Hamshaw's side broke quickly and Nombe was only an inch away from connecting with substitute Ar'Jany Martha's cross in front of an empty net.

Rafferty was the next to go close, with a header, from a Powell cross, that was pushed away by Fitzsimons.

The fans were now right behind the team, and Shaun McWilliams went racing towards into the area only for a deflection to take his shot away from goal.

Adegboyega came on for his debut and made himself an instant hero by putting Rotherham in front with that 84th-minute header.

And, happily, full-time cheers replaced the boos of half-time.

Rotherham (3-4-1-2): Cameron Dawson; Joe Rafferty, Zak Jules, Jamal Baptiste; Marvin Kaleta (Ar'Jany Martha 38), Kian Spence (Emmanuel Adegboyega 73), Shaun McWilliams, Reece James (Dan Gore H-T); Joe Powell; Sam Nombe, Harry Gray. Subs not used: Ted Cann, Lenny Agbaire, Dru Yearwood, Jack Holmes.

Northampton (4-2-3-1): Ross Fitzsimons; Jack Burroughs (Kamarai Swyer 71), Jordan Willis (Max Dyche 71), Jon Guthrie, Conor McCarthy; Dean Campbell, Terry Taylor; Elliott List (Jack Vale 82), Sam Hoskins (Michael Jacobs 82), Nesta Guinness-Walker; Tom Eaves (Jake Evans 82). Subs not used: Lee Burge, Jack Perkins.

Goals: Gray 58, Adegboyega 84 (Rotherham); Eaves 26 (Northampton)

Referee: Alan Young (Bedfordshire)

Attendance: 7,228 (293)