The nine-man Millers ... player ratings and match stats from Swindon Town 2 Rotherham United 1

Paul Davis gives his assessment on Saturday’s League Two proceedings at the County Ground where the visitors had two players sent off.

Millers (4-3-3)

Julian Eyestone: 7

Arguably his best all-round performance since his loan arrival. Made saves and, generally, handled decently. Not at fault for either goal.

Joe Rafferty: 7

Giving his usual 7/10, no-frills, no-risk performance until an injury cut short his 500th career appearance.

Denzel Hall: 8

Good enough to play well in most roles. He was a centre-half on this occasion and purred through the game, getting a foot to everything and using his pace and positional awareness to snuff out danger.

Dominic Iorfa: 7

We could have done without the sending-off, although it was a bit of a case of taking one for the team. He'd had a lot of work to do against opponents with a extra man and he'd done it effectively.

Kieran Ngwenya: 7

More of an athlete than a player. Did plenty of good things and few bad ones. If more of the player comes out, he could become a very good defender. Beaten too easily one on one a couple of times.

Brandon Cover: 6

Ran and battled in an unspectacular but committed performance.

Jayce Fitzgerald: 7

So good on the ball that he sometimes beat opponents and then doubled back so he could go around them again. Rotherham's main threat on a day when reduced numbers meant they couldn't be much of a threat at all. A young class act who is improving week by week.

Josh Austerfield: 6

Always busy, always hunting, always scrapping. Had to come off. Fingers crossed that a player with an excellent fitness record hasn't picked up a significant knock.

Aaron Nemane: 6

Poor lad. A winger with an attacking trick in him repeatedly being asked to fill in as a full-back because of dismissals. His lack of height is no issue going forward, but it becomes one when you're guarding your back post.

Paul Mullin: 6

Ran a marathon and hardly touched the ball. A thankless, selfless shift. It was all about the team for him. Take note of that, Jili Buyabu.

Jili Buyabu: 0

A straight red card for a petulant elbow after four minutes. Embarrassed himself, embarrassed the club, embarrassed the game. Needs to start accepting the responsibilities that come with being a professional footballer and having other people rely on you.

The subs

Sonny Alofree (for Cover): 6

Oh, Sonny. If only you'd put that stoppage-time chance away. Solid up to then.

Brandon Williams (for Rafferty 55): 5

Not the Manchester United version of the defender yet as he seeks to rebuild his career. One lovely inside pass was a sign of quality. His touch was heavy at other times, though.

George Sebine (for Nemane 55): 6

Good to have the striker out of the treatment as his pace and size gives the squad an extra dimension.

Tom Bradshaw (for Mullin 75): NA

Lurked and hovered as he tried to make something happen. He was right next to Aljofree when the big, nine-man moment for a special equaliser came and went. He'd have tucked the chance away.

Klaidi Lolos (for Austerfield 75): NA

A clever operator who offers something different. Can put teammates through gaps that other players haven't seen. Flitted in and out of the action.

Not used: Ted Cann, Lenny Agbaire.

Swindon (4-3-3): Connor Ripley; Mitchell Clark, James Ball (Joe Hungbo 42), Stephan Negru, Billy Kirkman; Matty Virtue, Jack Thomson, Daniel Butler (Joel McGregor 75); Tom Nichols (Ollie Palmer 60), Aaron Drinan, Joe Snowdon (James Debayo 75). Subs not used: Lewis War, Kaelan Majekodunmi, Louis Millard.

Goals: Thomson 45+3, Hungbo 81 (Swindon)

Referee: Isaac Searle (Kent)

Attendance: 7,515 (406)

Opposition view

"That was the most bizarre game I have ever seen in my life.

"Their first challenge, what was he doing? It was absolutely crazy. It looked like he meant it and smashed him in the face.

"The lads didn't flow into it against 10 men. We kept five at the back. We kept three centre-halves marking one. Oh my god!

"Every time we put the ball in the box, it didn't look like we'd score.

"We were lucky to win in the end. It was absolutely hideous, but we've got three points. It's tested every bit of my experience, and I'm completely exhausted now because I hated every second of that."

- Swindon boss Ian Holloway

The stats

Possession: Swindon 74 per cent, Millers 26

Goal attempts: Swindon 15, Millers 3

On target: Swindon 4, Millers 2

Touches in opposition box: Swindon 22, Millers 8

Corners: Swindon 7, Millers 0

Fouls committed: Swindon 10, Millers 10

Final word

Grow up, Jili. Fair play to the rest of them for a big, big effort.