The draw that could have been a win ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 1 Crewe Alexandra 1
The Millers have yet to taste defeat on their own turf in the league
Rotherham United had to settle for a draw as they continued their climb up the League Two table under Alex Bruce.
This afternoon's result against Crewe Alexandra at AESSEAL New York Stadium pushed them two places higher into 12th spot and they remain unbeaten in the fourth tier at home.
However, their second-half superiority should have brought a victory which would have seen them end the day in the top 10.
A trademark finish from Paul Mullin saw them equalise in the first half and then the second period brought a glut of opportunities that they couldn't make the most of.
Maybe the outcome wasn't a surprise - eighth-placed Alexandra have become draw specialists this term.
Neither side threatened in a quiet start and the first attempt on goal didn't arrive until the 14th minute when Ossama Ashley, picking up possession just outside the penalty area, drove a low shot wide.
Six minutes later, the home side found themselves behind when Dominic Iorfa, under no real pressure, headed a Crewe corner into his own net in front of the North Stand.
The Millers pushed for an equaliser and Kian Spence flashed a shot just off target after showing a good turn of pace to beat Kyle Ure to the ball.
The visitors had arrived at sunny New York unbeaten in the league after following up wins in their opening two matches with five successive draws.
They were workmanlike and neat but didn't look the best team to come to S60 this term.
Rotherham were having a spell of pressure and, just past the half-hour mark, Tom Bradshaw went for goal on the left from a tight angle, giving goalkeeper Tom Booth an easy save, when he might have been better squaring the ball.
The Millers had been well below their best and looked like heading in for the interval in arrears.
Happily, with the break only a minute away, they suddenly came good and a slick link-up between Aaron Nemane and Kian Spence set up the type of chance that Mullin rarely misses.
He didn't miss.
That strike certainly altered the half-time team talk for boss Bruce.
Rotherham were without eight players because of injuries and international call-ups, which saw them name only six substitutes instead of the permitted seven.
Centre-half Iorfa was making his home debut following his arrival earlier this month and Spence started in midfield for the first time since a calf issue kept him out for two matches.
Up front were 30-somethings Mullin and Bradshaw, but the absence of Fabio Tavares, George Sebine and Klaidi Lolos meant there was a lack of attacking punch on the bench where Marvin Kaleta was the only forward.
Seventy-five seconds after the restart, the Millers had a huge left-off when Josh March crossed low from the right and Adrien Thibaut completely fluffed his lines as the net opened up.
Josh Austerfield had been a standout performer throughout the game, and in the 56th minute he won the ball in a tackle and sent Mullin scurrying in on goal to fire in a shot gathered by Booth.
Kaleta came on as a substitute and immediately looked dangerous, although passing rather than shooting when he'd driven through the heart of the Crewe defence was the wrong option.
Bruce's men were doing all the attacking now, and the New York volume levels increased as Ashley brought a fine save from Booth with a strong 20-yard effort.
The same player then couldn't get enough contact on a header from a Jayce Fitzgerald free-kick, and Fitzgerald powered a shot wide as the Millers continued to dominate.
An offside decision cost Crewe a goal, and Rotherham threw on centre-back Hamish Douglas in attack late on in a desperate bid to force a winner.
The final whistle brought frustration at two dropped points, but there was more evidence that Rotherham are heading in the right direction.
It’s one defeat in eight games now.
Rotherham (3-5-2): Julian Eyestone; Denzel Hall, Dominic Iorfa, Sonny Aljofree; Aaron Nemane (Marvin Kaleta 58), Kian Spence (Jayce Fitzgerald, 58), Ossama Ashley (Hamish Douglas 90+1), Josh Austerfield, Jili Buyabu; Tom Bradshaw (Joe Rafferty 58), Paul Mullin. Subs not used: Ted Cann, Emmanuel Adegboyega.
Crewe (4-2-3-1): Tom Booth; Lewis Billington, Luke Offord, Josh Stephenson, Kyle Ure; Matus Holicek (Jack Lankester 67), Joe White (Conor Thomas 73); Josh March, Jordan Gibson (Owen Lunt 67), Joel Tabiner (Luca Moore 84); Adrien Thibaut (Charlie McNeil 73). Subs not used: Ian Lawlor, Stan Dancey.
Goals: Mullin 44 (Rotherham), Iorfa og 20 (Crewe)
Referee: David Rock (Hertfordshire)
Attendance: 7,860 (624)