Millers edged out by Sunderland

Jerry Yates’ second-half strike looked like earning the Millers a deserved draw before Charles N’Zogbia netted late on to make it 2-1 in front of David Moyes. He was watching from the stand after being installed as the Black Cats’ new boss in succession to England-bound Sam Allardyce.

After Danny Ward planted an early header wide, the visitors asserted their authority with Jermain Defoe keeping the home defence on their toes. He was unlucky to see a cheeky lob drift wide of the post before Fabio Borini fired them in front on the half-hour with a venomous first-time shot which squirmed past Lee Camp.

Greg Halford forced Jordan Pickford to parry from distance but along with Joe Mattock he had to limp off injured before the break.

That gave Stubbs the chance to take a look at new signing Jake Forster-Caskey but it was youth product  Yates, pressing for a first-team chance, who equalised straight after half time from a smart shot on the turn.

That boosted the Millers’ confidence and although creating few clear openings, they showed  some encouraging signs in attack in the second half and had the measure of Sunderland’s forward line until N’Zogbia drilled in the decider.

Millers: Camp, Kelly, Mattock (Thorpe 38), Broadfoot, Wood, Forde, Smallwood (Bailey-King 86), Halford (Forster-Caskey 42), Frecklington (Dawson 71); Ward (Muskwe 90) Yates

Sunderland: Pickford, J Robson, Kone, Kaboul, van Aanholt, Rodwell, Lens, N'Zogbia, Khazri, Borini, Defoe

Referee: C. Pawson

Attendance: 6,676 2,979 (visitors)