Goalkeeper in the firing line ... on-the-whistle report: Bristol Rovers 1 Rotherham United 0
Head coach Alex Bruce was red-carded late on
A question mark again hung over Ted Cann as the Rotherham United man was involved in the goal that brought the Millers' unbeaten run to an end this afternoon.
Alex Bruce's men went into the League Two encounter at table-topping Bristol Rovers with five points from their last three outings.
But they were undone by a first-half strike when goalkeeper Cann - under fire after previous such episodes - spilled the ball into the path of an opponent who gratefully accepted the invitation to score.
The loss against a Rovers side managed by former Rotherham boss Steve Evans dropped visitors to 17th spot in the table.
Bruce was sent off in stoppage time along with home number two Paul Raynor after a touchline altercation.
A quiet start saw neither side have a sight of goal in the opening stages.
Rovers had most of the possession and looked slick in attack at times, but Rotherham were organised in defence and the 20-minute mark came and went with no chances.
On a sunny afternoon in the south west, Rotherham were being cheered on by a 400-plus away following who were making themselves heard.
Cann was in the Millers net despite an edgy midweek display at Tranmere Rovers.
He'd been solid for half an hour but then didn't hold on to a shot on the break from Bobby Kamwa and Tommy Leigh was on hand to score.
It wasn't the first time this season that a parry from the keeper had led to an opposition goal.
The rebound pushed the ball right into the danger area rather than away from it.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, the home team had a spell of pressure. The visitors were equal to it and then had their first effort on goal, a speculative shot by Brandon Cover comfortably held by Brad Young.
The first ended with Shaq Forde firing just wide for Rovers.
Rotherham were without midfield duo Jamie Jellis and Kian Spence through injury and that gave Manchester United teenage loanee Jayce Fitzgerald to make his first start following his impressive debut as a substitute at Tranmere.
Tom Bradshaw, scorer of the last-minute penalty in the 2-2 draw at Prenton Park, was preferred to Paul Mullin up front, Emmanuel Adegboyega came back into the defence after a head knock and there was a place on the bench for the deadline-day loan arrival from Huddersfield Town, young striker George Sebine.
In the Rovers line-up were Millers old boys Richie Smallwood and Ben Purrington.
Soon after the restart, Adegboyega latched on to a low corner from Fitzgerald but couldn't keep his shot on the turn below the bar, and Sebine emerged for his first action.
With 20 minutes remaining, the airborne Cann did well to flash out a hand and divert a fierce Kofi Balmer volley onto the bar.
Fabio Tavares should have done better with a free header for the Millers than aim it straight at the keeper while Cann had an easy job of holding on to Jack Aitchison's low effort.
A last-gasp shot from Tavares crashed off the bar and the game was lost.
It's the 33th-minute Rovers goal that will linger in supporters' minds.
Next up is a home clash with Salford and it may well be that Rotherham kick off without Cann in their line-up.
Bristol Rovers (4-3-2-1): Brad Young; Tom James, Kofi Balmer, Riley Harbottle, Ben Purrington; Richie Smallwood, Clinton Mola, Bobby Kamwa (Reiss Russell-Denny 69); Shaq Forde (Philip Sanyaolu 86), Tommy Leigh (Ellis Harrison H-T); Fabrizio Cavegn (Jack Aitchison 59). Subs not used: Charlie Binns, Alfie Kilgour, Joe Quigley.
Rotherham (3-5-2): Ted Cann; Emmanuel Adegboyega ( (Paul Mullin 78), Sonny Aljofree, Ewan Otto; Denzel Hall, Jayce Fitzgerald (Ossama Ashley 61), Brandon Cover (Kieran Ngwenya 61), Josh Austerfield, Jili Buyabu (Aaron Nemane 78); Tom Bradshaw (George Sebine, 51), Fabio Tavares. Subs not used: Julian Eyestone, Joe Rafferty.
Goals: Leigh 33 (Rovers)
Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire)