Millers match Championship opposition ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 1 Derby County 1
The Millers have now completed their pre-season fixtures
They were offering free hot-dogs and sweets for kids in the nearby Cutlers Arms before kick-off.
The fare on offer at AESSEAL New York Stadium maybe wasn't quite as tempting, but Rotherham United still acquitted themselves extremely well against Derby County on Tuesday evening as they rounded off their programme of pre-season friendlies.
The League Two Millers were up against a Championship side and continued to show really encouraging signs of progress under new head coach Alex Bruce.
Bruce's famous father, Steve, was among the approving spectators in S60 as the home team defended well throughout the contest and attacked with verve after the interval to take their summer record to three wins, two draws and one defeat.
“I was pleased,” said Bruce Junior. “ I've said to some of the media guys through pre-season that've sounded like a broken record because after every game I've said you can see what we've been working on.
“Tonight was the same. I was very pleased with the second-half display. There were some good individual performances and a lot of positives to take.”
Rotherham found themselves a goal down after nine minutes when Emmanuel Adegboyega was harshly adjudged to have brought down Sammie Szmodics who picked himself up to score.
The Derby man had been sent clear by a sweet pass from Bobby Clark, the son of former Millers manager Lee.
The Millers were giving a reasonable account of themselves against quality opposition and Fabio Tavares had a 17th-minute shot blocked following an initial thrust from Jamie Jellis.
On a warm summer night, all of the East Stand and some of the West were closed while the kop was half full and around 1,000 travelling fans occupied the away end.
Rotherham, as they had against Sheffield United 10 days earlier, looked defensively well drilled, and they harried the Rams out of possession on a number of occasions.
As half-time approached, Jili Buyabu tried his luck from just inside the area but hit shot lacked the venom to really test County goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom.
The Millers should have been level three minutes before the break when the ball fell kindly for Brandon Cover, but the midfielder was guilty of a glaring miss as he ran in on goal, slipping a low shot wide of the post with only Zetterstrom to beat.
Seconds later, Adegboyega also should have equalised when he was free at the back post, only to direct his header straight at the keeper.
Two outfield trialists were in the home squad, with Sonny Aljofree starting at centre-half and left-back Brandon Williams occupying a seat on a bench that also included new striker Paul Mullin.
An even greater miss came just 38 seconds into the second half when Aaron Nemane somehow managed to fire over the bar from only eight yards when the net was gaping.
Mullin was given a warm reception when he warmed up soon after the restart.
Ted Cann kept out a Matt Clarke header with a reaction save, but it was the Millers doing most of the attacking as the hour mark approached.
“You need to be organised, and we were,” Bruce saud. “If you haven't got organisation and discipline and people don't know their jobs, they're going to come unstuck.
“The players have bought in to what we're trying to do on the training pitch. We've tried to put a lot of organisation into them, especially defensively.
“The more bodies that come so we can work with individuals, the better. It's been tough because some of those lads out there tonight, we've worked with them only once or twice.
“But they've really got on board with what we're trying to do and if they keep showing the same desire and the same appetite to learn and improve, that can be only a good thing.”
Tavares blazed over as the game continued to be played in the Derby half before Bruce's men grabbed the equaliser they deserved.
Keeper Zetterstrom tried to play the ball out to Lewis Travis in the 65th minute, but substitute Ossama Ashley was too sharp for both them and the new boy nipped in to stroke in his first goal since his arrival.
Not long afterwards, he went for goal again and saw his fierce drive from an angle punched away.
Rotherham were the superior side in the second half against loftier opponents and could be very pleased with their night's work.
Now the real stuff begins. Hot-dogs or no hot-dogs, the Millers look hungry.
Rotherham (4-3-3): Ted Cann (Jake Turner, trialist, 73); Denzel Hall (Rafferty 73), Emmanuel Adegboyega (Lenny Agbaire 73), Sonny Aljofree (trialist), Ewan Otoo (Brandon Williams, trialist, 73); Jamie Jellis (Dean Gardner 81), Brandon Cover (Ossama Ashley 60), Kian Spence (Cohen Lee 81), Aaron Nemane (Paul Mullin 60), Fabio Tavares (Marvin Kaleta 73), Jili Buyabu (Ar'Jany Martha 73). Subs: Ben Childs, Lewis Clarke.
Derby (4-1-4-1): Jacob Zetterstrom; Max Johnston (Dion Sanderson 63), Sondre Langas, Matt Clarke, Charlie Taylor (Craig Forsyth H-T); Lewis Travis (Cameron Wilson 78); Owen Eames, Oscar Fraulo, Bobby Clark, Dajaune Brown (Joe Ward H-T); Sammie Szmodics (Corey Blackett-Taylor H-T). Subs: Harley Price, Sam Kane, Dantel Hodges.
Goals: Ashley 65 (Rotherham); Szmodics pen 9 (Derby)
Referee: James Bell (Sheffield)
Attendance: 2,239 (1,108)