Late hammer blow for Millers

Drawing 1-1 and within seconds of a point, an own goal from Jonson Clarke-Harris decided the contest and scuppered a brave defensive display from Neil Redfearn’s men.

Tony Andreu had put the Millers in front in the first half before Eoin Doyle equalised just past the hour mark.

New loan signing Shay Facey from Manchester City came in for a quickfire debut in place of the injured Frazer Richardson at right-back and settled well.

Lee Frecklington limped off early on and was replaced by Paul Green but it didn’t stop Rotherham shading a tight first half.

Danny Ward was foiled by a goalline clearance and then turned creator for the first goal on 36 minutes, crossing for the inrushing Andreu to bury a near-post header past Sam Johnstone.

It took a good block by Green to stop Joe Garner equalising soon after but it wasn’t until after the break that the hosts hit their stride.

Joe Mattock shovelled one off the line from Garner and Lee Camp had to show sharp reflexes to foil subs Paul Huntington and Alan Browne before Eion Doyle hooked in the equaliser from close range just past the hour mark.

Camp somehow kept out an effort from Doyle right on the goalline as the pressure continued and the match was deep into three minutes of injury time when a high ball skimmed off the head of Clarke-Harris and cleared the helpless Camp and dropped in at the post to make it 2-1.

Preston: Johnstone, Vermijl, Cunningham, Clarke, Wright (Huntington 46), Johnson, Gallagher, Doyle, Garner, Welsh (Browne 52), Reach

Millers: Camp, Facey, Mattock, Rawson, Broadfoot, Grant Ward, Smallwood, Frecklington (Green 11),  Newell, Andreu (Clarke-Harris 55), Danny Ward

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey)

Attendance: 12,027 (1,038 visitors)