How Paul Warne has gone one better than Steve Evans, Neil Redfearn, Alan Stubbs and Neil Warnock ... the story of Blackburn Rovers 1 Rotherham United 1

Step forward Paul Warne. For the first time since they began playing Championship football again in 2014, Rotherham United have gone from one international break to another without losing.

True, that run of five fixtures is shorter than usual, but it includes three matches unbeaten away from home when the Millers hadn't won a single point on their travels beforehand this season.

"That's Manager of the Season stuff," Warne grinned when he was told afterwards. "I'll be getting a statue."

Their latest road show earned Rotherham a point at play-off-chasing Blackburn Rovers. They stood up to a second-half onslaught, went in front and finished up frustrated to concede a late equaliser that shouldn't have been allowed to count.

The stats as Warne's men head into their fortnight away from league action make welcome reading: 19th place, five games without loss, one defeat in eight outings, a defensive record bettered only by Stoke City and Bristol City in the bottom half of the table.

"The lads are always learning and growing," the boss said. "That's the joy of my team. I spoke to them after the game and they're a little disappointed they haven't won it.

"Who knows how important these away points will turn out to be. You can ask me that in May when I've got sand between my toes. If we don't make the play-offs, I'll have a longer holiday! 

Goal celebration

"Every point is crucial. Every game is a bit of cup final for us and we try to make it like that. We ask a lot of our lads physically. We don't want to be fighting for points in April and May. We want to get as many as we can now."

THE GAME

It was point gained, not two lost.

In a hard-fought first half, Joe Mattock should have scored with a header for Rotherham while Adam Armstrong cut inside and rattled the crossbar for Rovers.

After the break, it was all Blackburn. The Millers were saved by Marek Rodak as Danny Graham, Elliott Bennett and Darragh Lenihan all threatened a goal, Richard Wood cleared a Graham header off the line, Rodak foiled Bradley Dack, Graham headed wide.

The 'R' word had been mentioned when Stubbs lost here in a season of disaster two years ago. Now it stood for resolve, for resistance.

Somehow the visitors held out, somehow they took the lead through Michael Smith's second goal in three games.

Rodak thwarted Armstrong, Wood was on the line again to deny Ryan Nyambe.

Just nine minutes remained when Rotherham were finally breached by Dack, a player rated so highly by Warne that the boss had changed formation and moved Semi Ajayi into midfield to combat him.

Ajayi took to his task like a Dack to water and it was only when the Rotherham man was switched to right-back in place of Zak Vyner in the 70th minute that Blackburn's tormentor in chief truly flourished.

"I just felt we were struggling down Zak's side in the second half," Warne said. "They were getting past him a little bit too much.

"I was hopeful that we might have nicked the win and moved up the table a little bit more, but there are no complaints from me. The lads, as always, gave their all."

THE GOALS

It was the first time Rotherham had led away from AESSEAL New York Stadium this season. They still can't win on the road, but now teams can't beat them either.

They were under the cosh when they broke out in the 75th minute, allowing Ryan Williams to get the better of Amari'i Bell in tight space down the right and deliver a telling cross.

Michael Smith was lurking in the penalty area. The striker's header back across the goalkeeper had no real pace but there was unerring certainy about its direction as it bounced with almost slow-motion beauty into the corner. Long before it crossed the line, 683 fans way up high in the away end knew it was going in.

Paul Warne urges on his side

"Smudge works so hard for the team so for him to get another goal is fully deserved," Warne said.

Six minutes later, Blackburn were level. Ben Brereton crossed low from the right and Dack, finally free of Ajayi, pounced. Replays would show Brereton was offside when the ball was played to him.

"I'm not being a baby about it because they definitely deserved a goal," Warne said. "The lads didn't wilt and I always feel when we get across the halfway line that we've got a real belief. We can create chances and score goals. 

"For us to pick up a point is really pleasing. I was thinking at one stage 'Wow, this might be three', but I have absolutely no complaints."

After the equaliser, a Rovers side that have lost only once in their last 29 home league matches pushed for a winner. The visitors, with minds focused and bodies on the line, made sure it never came.

The 'R' word ... it stood for resilience, for resurgence, for Rotherham.

Warnock, the last boss to keep the Millers in the Championship, would approve.

Blackburn (4-2-3-1): David Raya; Elliott Bennett, Darragh Lenihan, Jack Rodwell, Amari'i Bell; Richie Smallwood, Harrison Reed; Kasey Palmer, Bradley Dack, Adam Armstrong; Danny Graham.

Subs: Ryan Nyambe for Reed (H-T), Joe Rothwell for Smallwood (78), Ben Brereton for Graham (78). Not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Paul Downing, Lewis Travis, Craig Conway.

Rotherham (4-1-4-1): Marek Rodak; Zak Vyner, Richard Wood, Clark Robertson, Joe Mattock; Semi Ajayi; Ryan Williams, Richie Towell, Ryan Manning, Joe Newell; Michael Smith.

Subs: Jon Taylor for Newell (61 minutes), Ben Wiles for Vyner (70), Kyle Vassell for Williams (89). Not used: Lewis Price, Anthony Forde, Matt Palmer, Jamie Proctor.

Goals: Dack 81 (Blackburn), Smith 75 (Rotherham).

Referee: David Webb (Lancashire).

Attendance: 12,847 (683).