The song, the celebrations, that penalty ... the story of Northampton Town 0 Rotherham United 1

All together now …

"We've got Mull-in,

"Super Paul Mull-in."

In case you're not sure, it's sung to the tune of that famous old Billy Ray Cyrus hit from the 1990s.

The Rotherham United man had just smashed home the match-deciding penalty at Northampton Town and 716 away fans were making the most of it.

After three success-starved seasons, something is starting to bubble under new boss Alex Bruce, and supporters are up for the ride.

This was the first shut-out and the first away victory of a League Two campaign in which the Millers are cautiously but surely gathering momentum.

They always triumph over Northampton, mind. It's eight victories on the trot now as, yet again, they broke the Cobblers' achy breaky hearts.

Not that Bruce was getting too excited about a result delivered via a spirited response to a first half that, frankly, hadn't been up to scratch.

"We've conceded too many goals in the first few games, we've drawn too many times," he said. "We've played better in some of those draws than we did today.

"The way the lads dug in to keep a clean sheet pleased me more than anything. A solid base is what you have to have at any level, in my opinion. It gives the attacking players something to build on."

A climb to 14th spot gives the whole team something to build on.

The head coach was speaking in Sixfield Stadium's Main Stand which had been his vantage point for the afternoon while he served a one-match touchline ban. Even after Saturday's final whistle, he wasn't allowed to take a single step pitchside where his media duties are usually conducted after away games.

His seat high up in the video analysts' gantry was right next to the press box and his concern was obvious as Rotherham stuttered against hard-running, quick-pressing opponents for whom lone frontman Nathan Opoku impressed and tricky Owen Dale shone even more.

Superb blocks from Ossama Ashley twice foiled Opuku, but it was the visitors who had the best sights of goal before the break, even though their all-round play was lacking in purpose and sharpness.

Early on, Fabio Tavares was gifted the ball by an errant Town pass and his curling shot from the left brought a fine, full-stretch save from Zach Jeacock. Late on, Josh Austerfield won possession, lost possession and regained possession in a determined run through the penalty area that ended in his close-range effort by kept out by further agility from the goalkeeper.

Whatever, Bruce, via mobile phone, told assistant head coach Steve Agnew to say in the dressing room at half-time, it worked.

The Millers were the better side from the restart and, in the 72nd minute, Tom Bradshaw sent Mullin - Super Paul Mull-in - bustling towards goal to force himself the wrong side of Max Dyche and be halted by illegal means.

The offence might have occurred inches outside of the area while the striker tumbled inches inside.

Penalty, decided the referee, and there was absolutely no 'out or in?' debate about the ensuing spot-kick. It was very much in. "He put his foot through it," said Bruce. "He takes them properly, doesn't he?"

Mullin ran to the travelling fans packed behind the goal, giving the ball another kick for good measure on his way.

By this time, a new boy had departed. Centre-half Dominic Iorfa had lasted for an hour on his debut and during that time he'd shown that his towering frame, speed and know-how from a long Championship career are going to be real assets in the push to reach the top end of the fourth-tier table.

"I think he brings a bit of leadership, a bit of physical presence, certainly on set-plays," said Bruce. "With the way that he is, and with the levels that he's played at, the other lads can feed off him and learn from him. He can be pleased with his work. He got tired, but I certainly think he'll give us something."

Before the penalty, Mullin had seen a shot saved. After it, Austerfield fired into the side-netting when he was clean through, Jili Buyabu had an effort deflected and Kian Spence, on the follow-up, shot just wide.

The clock ticked into added time and, suddenly, a deserved triumph was in doubt. Route-one football had set up a last-gasp chance for Northampton and Harvey Saunders had only Julian Eyestone to beat.

The young keeper is even bigger than Iorfa and, in only his second appearance, he had the aura of giant guarding a five-a-side net as he shut out the Town substitute.

"It was a great save," said Bruce. "He looked massive when he was diving out at the lad's feet, didn't he?

Rotherham have come through a tough run of fixtures, and this was the first time they'd kicked off against a side below them in the standings.

If the performance left something to be desired, the outcome didn't. At the final whistle, the team went en masse to the supporters who had so noisily consumed the away end, and a simultaneous raising-of-the-arms involving virtually every player was uproariously greeted by the celebrating throng.

"When you look behind the goal at League Two level and you see it full, it's an amazing feeling," said Bruce. "It wasn't a great game, and I'm sure they'll be on the coaches and in the cars going back thinking that they've seen us play better.

"But what I'm also sure about is that they're pleased we found a way to win. Sometimes, you've got to win ugly. If you're going to be successful, you have to have these kind of days."

There was nothing ugly about that Mullin penalty. In fact, it was a thing of beauty. Fans continued to sing his song.

How good was that 12-yard strike that scorched into the roof of the net and sent the keeper flying in the wrong direction?

How good did this victory feel?

I just don't think you understand.

Northampton (4-2-3-1): Zach Jeacock; Max Dyche (Matty Warhurst 81), Jon Guthrie, Elliott Moore, Josh Powell; Tyrese Fornah (Sam Hoskins 87), Jake O'Brien-Whitmarsh; Joe Wormleighton, Owen Dale (Logan Briggs 81), Sam Chambers (Harvey Saunders 67); Nathan Opoku (Connor Evans 87). Subs not used: Kamarai Sawyer, Ross Fitzsimons.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Julian Eyestone; Sonny Aljofree, Dominic Iorfa (Jili Buyabu 60), Ewan Otoo; Denzel Hall, Josh Austerfield, Ossama Ashley (Kian Spence 67), Brandon Cover, Aaron Nemane (Emmanuel Adegboyega 79); Paul Mullin (Kieran Ngwenya 79), Fabio Tavares (Tom Bradshaw 67). Subs not used: Ted Cann, Jayce Fitzgerald.