Player ratings and match stats from Rotherham United 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
Paul Davis gives his verdict on League One proceedings at AESSEAL New York Stadium as the Millers raise hopes that they can win their battle to beat the drop.
Millers (3-4-1-2)
Ted Cann: 7
No issues and a clean sheet. Job done.
Joe Rafferty: 7
Very decent defending, and he's almost becoming prolific in the opposition box. That's three goals for the season now – the best return of his career.
Emmanuel Adegboyega: 6
Looks ungainly sometimes but he's a good physical unit. Was generally doing okay before his early exit, although one lapse, against Caleb Watts, almost let Plymouth in.
Jamal Baptiste: 7
Strong, quick, decent on the ball, willing to compete. Another good display in a very good loan spell.
Ar'Jany Martha: 6
Some flashes of real danger as he beat players with ease. Better than he has been in recent weeks, but a player of his talent needs to apply him more consistently.
Dru Yearwood: 9
A top-class 'bits and pieces' performance. Won the ball and did something with it. Helped the Millers to play while stopping Argyle doing the same. Hurried here, harried there. Hardly ever spectacular, always essential. And, remember, he was carrying a bit of an ankle knock. Superb.
Josh Benson: 8
A quality player who has struck up an instant understanding with another quality player, Duncan Watmore. He was clever on the ball and never shirked his defensive duties. Please stay fit, Benno.
Reece James: 8
Up and down the left flank from start to finish and he put in some telling deliveries. Back to his top form.
Duncan Watmore: 8
Too good for League One. Let's hope his body holds up because the deadline-day arrival is already looking like Rotherham's best route to survival. The touch that sent Sam Nombe running in on goal was sublime.
Sam Nombe: 7
Could have put his name on the scoresheet at least twice. Added real thrust to the Millers with his running. Giving everything to the cause, just needs a goal in open play.
Harry Gray: 7
Had a big effect coming in off the left and, like Nombe, will feel he should have bagged a brace. A class act. Still a baby but already has so much to give, despite his rawness. There's a real twinkle in both feet.
The subs
Zak Jules (for Adegboyega 36): 7
Has sometimes been accused of not going into battle but he stepped up here.
Shaun McWilliams (for Watmore 53): 6
Put in an industrious shift. Just lacked a bit of quality on the ball at times.
Dan Gore (for Benson 53): 7
Arguably the Millers' most important player through the season. Makes all the right decisions in possession and adds some much-need bite to the side. Welcome back. His mark would have been an 8 had he been on the pitch for longer.
Lenny Agbaire (for Martha 82): NA
Slotted in without problem in another late cameo.
Not used: Cameron Dawson, Brandon Cover, Gabriele Biancheri.
Plymouth (4-4-2): Luca Ashby-Hammond 8; Wes Harding 6, Julio Pleguezuelo 6 (Jack MacKenzie H-T, 6), Alex Mitchell 6, Matty Sorinola 6 (Jamie Paterson 82); Tegan Finn 6 (Xavier Amaechi 50, 6), Caleb Watts 7, Joe Edwards 6 (Owen Oseni 82), Malachi Boateng 6; Bim Bepple 5, Ronan Curtis 5. Subs not used: Zak Baker, Ayman Benarous, Sam Hayman.
Goals: Rafferty 7 (Rotherham)
Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle (Northumberland)
Attendance: 8,502 (1,139)
Opposition view
Tom Cleverley thought his side should have been awarded penalties for either of two incidents at the same corner involving Bim Bepple and Alex Mitchell and for an alleged Jamal Baptiste foul on Bepple.
The Pilgrims boss, who was booked by referee Zac Kennard-Kettle, said: “You would like to think we have got enough investment in communications that the referee could be helped.
“It has happened too many times this year, that big decisions and clear decisions have gone against us. It's not good enough.”
Cleverley kept Plymouth journalists waiting for around an hour after the final whistle while he went to see Kennard-Kettle.
The stats
Possession: Millers 50 per cent, Plymouth 50
Goal attempts: Millers 18, Plymouth 19
On target: Millers 7, Plymouth 4
Touches in opposition box: Millers 27, Plymouth 24
Corners: Millers 3, Plymouth 8
Fouls committed: Millers 11, Plymouth 13
Final word
If Rotherham play like this regularly, they can stay up.