Millers are off to Wembley

Goals from Wes Thomas, Lee Frecklington and Kieran Agard saw Steve Evans’ men come from behind to win 3-1 and set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Leyton Orient next Sunday.

The night began with a shock when Preston took the lead on 16 minutes. Paul Gallagher swung in a free-kick from out wide that flashed across a crowded penalty area and bounced into the top corner of the net.

Rotherham fought back in style. After Kari Arnason’s point blank header forced a reflex save from Declan Rudd, the equaliser arrived on 24 minutes when Ben Pringle whipped in a free-kick and Thomas met it with a glancing header.

Things got better ten minutes later as Frecklington timed his run perfectly to head the Millers into the lead off a post, with Pringle again the supplier.

While there was a let-off just before the break when Adam Collin spilled a drive from Neil Kilkenny and watched the ball bobble past his post,  the woodwork prevented Pringle adding a third soon after the break.

The New York Stadium erupted when Agard finally made it 3-1 on 66 minutes, taking a feed from James Tavernier to steer the ball into the bottom corner.

Pringle and Arnason went close to increasing the advantage still further before Preston went for broke and were unlucky to to score. Jack King’s long-range effort deflected onto a post and Joe Garner also hit the upright.

The final whistle was greeted by a pitch invasion and not many among a capacity crowd begrudged the Millers a win which nudges them nearer to completing a second successive promotion.

Millers: Collin, Tavernier, Skarz, Morgan (capt), Arnason, Agard (O’Connor 90), Frecklington (MIlsom 90), Smallwood, Pringle, Revell, Thomas (Vuckic 87)

Preston: Rudd, Wiseman (Humphrey 53), Clarke, Wright, King, Buchanan, Kilkenny, Welsh (capt) (Brownhill 60), Gallagher (Beavon 77), K. Davies, Garner

Referee: K. Stroud

Attendance: 11,576 (1,230 visitors)

Online gallery Rotherham United v Preston