Hope in defeat for Millers ... on-the-whistle report: Stockport County 3 Rotherham United 2

But it would prove, sadly, to be in vain

Sam Nombe was back in a Rotherham United shirt and he needed only a quarter of an hour to show how important he is to the Millers' cause.

Fifteen minutes after entering the fray against Stockport County as a half-time substitute, the centre-forward bagged the goal that put the visitors' in sight of ending their seven-match losing streak.

But the promotion-chasing opposition would hit back in a pulsating second half to claim a winner and leave Rotherham entrenched in League One's drop zone.

The Millers' display after the break, when a clutch of other senior men were also back in the mix following injury, gave them a degree of hope on another frustrating afternoon that saw the debut of teenage Premier League loanee Harry Gray.

Nombe hit both posts in stoppage time with the same shot as they frantically chased an equaliser.

They remain five points away from safety but will win games if they continue to play like this.

Rotherham fell behind in the 13th minute when Stockport new boy Josh Dacres-Cogley tried his luck from a tight angle and found the bottom corner of the net.

The ball seemed to go in too easily and replays confirmed that a decisive deflection off Millers defender Sean Raggett was the reason.

The shot had been the only serious goal attempt of the contest so far.

Gray and strike partner Jordan Hugill were receiving little service up front at the ground where Matt Hamshaw suffered his first defeat as Rotherham manager last term.

Liam Kelly had the visitors' first attempt on goal, as the half-hour mark approached, but was high and wide from distance before Dru Yearwood strode forward and saw his shot blocked.

More than 600 Millers fans had made the trip to Edgeley Park and they had little to cheer as their side were forced to the back foot by opponents who had kicked off on fourth spot.

Ethan Pye headed wide as the home team dominated territory and possession, but the game took a huge swing close to the interval when Hamshaw's men found themselves level in freak circumstances.

County goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe went to boot the ball out of his hands but succeeded only in smashing it into the back of his own defender, Joseph Olowu.

One rebound and one bounce later, the net was rippling and the match had its second own goal.

The Millers were suddenly galvanised by their huge slice of luck and Jordan Hugill could have made things even better for them before the break. However, his header from Dru Yearwood's cross went just the wrong side of the post.

Rotherham had handed an instant start to striker Gray, four days after his arrival from top-flight Leeds United.

Several players were fit again after injury, with Marvin Kaleta coming straight into the side and top scorer Sam Nombe, Kian Spence and Reece James all making the bench.

Joe Powell missed out with a minor issue - the first time an injury had sidelined him since his 2024 arrival.

Nombe, Spence and James duly came on for the second half, which was only seconds old when Shaun McWilliams brought the best out of Hinchliffe with a skidding low shot.

Gray went for glory from a near-impossible angle as the Millers attacked the away end and looked much more lively in the opening stages of the second period.

However, disaster struck in controversial circumstances in the 56th minute. Kyle Wootton headed Ollie Norwood's corner into the ground and up, Dawson flapped and the ball went over the line.

There was some debate as to whether the last touch had been the keeper's or Josh Stokes'. What wasn't up for debate was how much the Rotherham players protested that Dawson had been impeded.

This was a different Millers team in the second half, though, and they were soon level as Nombe won the race to McWilliams' cross and beat Hinchliffe to send the travelling supporters into raptures.

They continued to give as good as they got until the 77th minute when Stockport's Benony Andresson pounced from almost on the goalline.

The diving Hinchliffe pushed away a goalbound Spence shot as Rotherham tried to come again and McWilliams bent an effort inches off target.

Then came the Nombe ‘post post’ moment.

Followed by the final whistle and a standing ovation from away fans that Rotherham’s efforts deserved.

Stockport (3-4-1-2): Ben Hinchliffe; Joseph Olowu (Benony Andresson 61), Brad Hills, Ethan Pye; Josh Dacres-Cogley (Jack Hunt 73), Ollie Norwood, Ben Osborn (Jayden Fevrier 61), Tayo Edun; Odin Bailey; Josh Stokes (Jack Diamond 80), Kyle Wootton. Subs not used: Corey Addai, Malik Mothersille, Jid Okeke.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Cameron Dawson; Joe Rafferty (Lenny Agbaire 90+5), Sean Raggett, Jamal Baptiste; Jack Holmes (Reece James H-T), Liam Kelly (Kian Spence H-T), Shaun McWilliams, Dru Yearwood, Marvin Kaleta (Zak Jules 68); Harry Gray, Jordan Hugill (Sam Nombe H-T). Subs not used: Ted Cann, James Clarke.

Goals: Raggett og 13, Stokes 56, Andresson 77 (Stockport); Olowu og 42, Nombe 60 (Rotherham)

Referee: Aaron Bannister (West Yorkshire)

Attendance: 9,141 (634)