Loss number six ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 0 Peterborough United 2
ROTHERHAM United kicked off the new year in the same manner as they'd ended the old one as they fell to defeat at AESSEAL New York Stadium on the first day of 2026.
Further injuries to an already-depleted squad forced Matt Hamshaw to field a weakened side and a sixth successive loss, in the first game of 2026, was the outcome.
The manager is feeling the heat, with the Millers stuck third-bottom in the League One table following the reverse against in-form Peterborough United.
Home fans left in droves when the second Posh goal went in in the 73rd minute and there were boos at the final whistle.
Rotherham should have threatened early on when Jordan Hugill had the ball on the right and Denzel Hall made a lung-bursting run through the middle, but the pass was wayward and fell straight into the arms of goalkeeper Alex Bass.
At the other end, Matthew Garbett made ground but fired his low shot wide of the target.
A misjudged throw from Bass gave Joe Rafferty sight of an empty net. However, the defender's effort from 25 yards was a poor and drifted harmlessly over the byline.
In the 17th minute, a wonderful touch and cross from Hall set up Kion Etete and the striker's acrobatic attempt brought a sharp save that denied him a first goal since October 2023.
Before kick-off, there had been a touching ‘Rotherham Remembers’ tribute as the names of supporters who'd passed away in 2025 were displayed on the big screen.
Fans hadn't turned out in numbers and there were plenty of empty seats around the ground.
Joe Powell cleared off the line as Posh sought to take the lead from a corner via the knee of Kyrell Lisbie.
The Millers were causing their own problems with some clumsy passing and Cameron Dawson had to dive full stretch to deny Declan Frith after a bout of poor defending.
With half-time approaching, Powell whipped a cross to the back post where Etete was found wanting with his volleyed effort before Dawson parried Garbett's free-kick.
Rotherham, who have been unable to field their best side all season, were hit by more absentees as midfielder Dan Gore and centre-half Hamish Douglas dropped out of the reckoning.
Star striker Sam Nombe was missing again with a hamstring issue but Hugill was declared fit to play up front and was wearing a mask three days after breaking his nose at Blackpool.
Midfield man Shaun McWilliams returned to the starting 11 after more than a month on the sidelines with a hamstring problem but Ar'Jany Martha had to be satisfied with a substitute's role after a run of poor form from the attacker.
In the Peterborough-line-up was New York old boy Peter Kioso and Archie Collins whom the Millers tried to sign during the managerial tenure of Matt Taylor.
Martha came on at the break and within three minutes teed up Dru Yearwood for a curling shot that the sprawling Bass did well to push away.
Donay O'Brien-Brady went even closer for the visitors moments later when he hit the woodwork - a feat immediately repeated by Hugill for the home team in front of the North Stand when the goal was gaping.
Rotherham fell behind just after the hour mark when Dawson got to Frith's low cross but could only direct it against teammate Joe Rafferty who ended up in the back of the net along with the ball.
Matters grew even worse 12 minutes later when Brandon Khela, who'd only just entered the fray, wriggled into a shooting position and found the bottom corner.
Dawson kept the score down by foiling Harry Leonard, and more and more supporters had left by the end.
Five wins and a draw for Posh.
Defeat after defeat for the Millers.
Rotherham (3-1-4-2): Cameron Dawson; Joe Rafferty (Liam Kelly 66), Zak Jules, Jamal Baptiste; Dru Yearwood (Jack Holmes 66); Denzel Hall (Sean Raggett 79), Shaun McWilliams, Joe Powell, Reece James (Ar'Jany Martha H-T); Jordan Hugill, Kion Etete (Josh Ayres 53). Subs not used: Ted Cann, Lenny Agbaire.
Peterborough (4-1-4-1): Alex Bass; Peter Kioso (James Dornelly 84), Tom Lees, Tom O'Connor, Carl Johnston; Archie Collins; Declan Frith, Matthew Garbett (Ben Woods 77), Donay O'Brien-Brady (Brandon Khela 71), Kyrell Lisbie (Cian Hayes 77); Gustav Lindgren (Harry Leonard 71). Subs not used: Vicente Reyes, George Nevett.
Goals: Rafferty og 61, Khela 73 (Peterborough)
Referee: Matthew Corlett (Merseyside)
Attendance: 8,429 (1,007)