Glorious night for the Millers ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 2 Coventry City 0

The Millers were down on numbers, as they have been all season, but they took all three points in a triumph set up by 36-year-old Lee Peltier.

The veteran defender had done a sterling job all evening in his own half and then found the energy to get forward after the break and become the unlikely hero by scoring the opener.

It was only the third goal of his Rotherham career and his first at New York.

Ollie Rathbone smashed home the clincher in the dying minutes on a great night in S60.

The Millers were worth their second victory of the campaign after creating a series of second-half chances, although the visitors also had several opportunities to score.

Matt Taylor’s men remain in the drop zone but this was huge statement in the face of adversity.

In the opening exchanges, Dexter Lembikisa tested Ben Wilson with a low shot and Viktor Johansson was forced into a much sharper shot at the other end as Ellis Simms made full contact with Kyle McFadzean's delivery from the left.

With 20 minutes on the clock, the Millers should have been in front but Fred Onyedinma somehow directed the ball wide when Jordan Hugill's left-flank cross was begging to be headed in.

Both teams were keen to attack but as the contest approached the half-hour neither had been able to force a breakthrough in an even contest.

Against opposition who had arrived in 17th spot, the Millers were creating promising opportunities but wasting them with a poor final ball.

The visitors were restricted to efforts from distance and when they did get close to goal Rotherham were quick to make blocks.

The home side were without attacker Andre Green who is facing a year on the sidelines after rupturing his achilles tendon and Arvin Appiah came in for his first league start.

With injuries plaguing Taylor's side, Sean Morrison, available again after calf trouble, is now the club's only fit senior centre-half and the captain took his place in the backline alongside Peltier who had again moved from right-back to cover in the heart of the defence.

Peltier had been excellent in the first half in a defensive capacity and six minutes into the second came an even bigger contribution in the other half of the pitch as he glanced home Cafu's corner to give the Millers the lead.

He was quickly called into action in his usual role, putting in a superb block before Johansson somehow kept out a Simms' effort from point-blank range.

The keeper denied Ben Sheaf shot from distance but it was Rotherham who took the upper hand in the contest and they could have stretched their advantage.

Rathbone was thwarted by a full-stretch save from Wilson as his low shot headed for the corner of the goal and then Hugill headed against the post after tricky work and a deadly cross from Lembikisa on the right.

New York had come alive and the Millers were being roared on when Christ Tiehi headed just wide in front of the North Stand on 69 minutes.

Onyedinma raced clear after being played in by Hugill but Wilson was equal to a shot that lacked power.

The next attempt, from Rathbone, was full of power but the overworked Coventry keeper made a flying save when the Rotherham man pulled the trigger from 20 yards.

A second Millers goal would have ended the contest but it failed to come and they were living dangerously four minutes from the end of regulation time when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto headed just wide.

Then the goal that had failed to come earlier gloriously arrived. Seb Revan crossed from the left in stoppage time, Georgie Kelly chested the ball back and Rathbone crashed in an unstoppable shot as New York erupted.

The midfielder deserved his goal, the Millers deserved their fine victory.

Rotherham (4-3-3): Viktor Johansson; Dexter Lembikisa, Lee Peltier (Hakeem Odoffin 77), Sean Morrison, Cohen Bramall; Cafu (Sam Clucas 88), Christ Tiehi, Ollie Rathbone; Fred Onyedinma, Jordan Hugill (Georgie Kelly 88), Arvin Appiah (Seb Revan 60). Subs not used: Dillon Phillips, Tom Eaves, Sam Nombe, Ciaran McGuckin.

Coventry (3-4-1-2): Ben Wilson; Luis Binks, Kyle McFadzean, Joel Latibeaudiere (Callum O'Hare 76); Milan van Ewijk, Josh Eccles, Ben Sheaf, Jay Dasilva; Yasin Ayari (Tatsuhiro Sakamoto 76); Matt Godden (Haji Wright 65), Ellis Simms. Subs not used: Brad Collins, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Jake Bidwell, Dermi Lusala, Justin Obikwu.

Goals: Peltier 51, Rathbone 90+3 (Rotherham).

Referee: Lewis Smith (Wigan).

Attendance: 10,553 (2,174).