Inspiring speeches, legends, car-pool heroes and a crazy ending ... the story of Rotherham United 2 Sheffield United 2

AESSEAL New York Stadium was in deafening disarray as he climbed off the bench to hit a stoppage-time equaliser in front of a baying kop.

Home fans hollered in demented derby delight, Rotherham United players came together in a crazy corner-flag cacophony.

The mayhem didn't bother the striker, but he still required protection - he was due to share the journey home with fellow scorer, the game's top performer and general Millers livewire Jon Taylor.

"God, he's going to keep me awake on the way back," Proctor said. "Man of the Match, a goal ... does anyone know where I can buy earplugs?"

This was the Millers at their thrilling, inspiring best. Paul Warne's men went for South Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield United, created nearly all the chances, pressed, pushed and pressured. One of the Championship's most dangerous teams were driven back by the home side's relentess, hard-running assault.

Twice Rotherham found themselves behind, twice they fought back. They could have won, they should have won, but were somehow 2-1 down as Proctor prepared to join the battle. 

Jamie Proctor scores

So strong is the Millers' spirit that the substitute could almost sense what was about to happen.

"I  came on knowing that the lads would just keep going and going, especially shooting towards the kop," he said. "At home, going towards our home fans, we have a belief that we will get a result."

THE MATCH

Cometh the interval, cometh the call to arms. The Millers, having missed their own opportunities to score, trailed to Mark Duffy's classy eighth-minute opener and manager Warne made his pitch:

"You'll blink and your careers will soon be over and these are the games that people will remember. These are the games that make you a Millers player or a Millers legend."

The second half belonged to Rotherham.

Michael Smith headed wide, Taylor wastefully fired a free-kick over the bar and Clark Roberton's perfect connection brought a stunning reflex save from Dean Henderson before Taylor levelled in the 65th minute with a deflected shot.

Jon Taylor

As the Millers went for the winner, Henderson - as he had in the opening period - produced a flying stop to keep out a Semi Ajayi header and the Blades goalkeeper was relieved moments later to see yet another Ajayi aerial attempt just miss the target.

Out of nowhere, the visitors looked to have won the match as Chris Basham towered at the back post in the 85th minute and nodded in Billy Sharp's cross.

Rotherham could have sagged, instead they stirred. 'These are the games that people will remember.'  Deep into added time, they launched one final attack.

Smith - the third wheel in Taylor's car-share arrangement - crossed from the right, Oli Norwood unwittingly diverted the ball into Proctor's path and the sub gloriously swept the ball home from 15 yards.

Not so much 'one touch and in' as 'only touch and in'.

"I saw it hit the back of the net and never touched the ball again!" the scorer beamed. "On for 10 minutes, touched it once! As long as it's a goal, no-one cares!"

Taylor, Proctor and Smith are regular companions on the drive across the M62 to training and games, their bond fuelled by camaradarie and coffee.

"Tayls thinks he's the key man in the car school and keeps the other two of us going," Proctor said. "He does some mornings, to be fair. You have to get him his Starbucks first, though, before he picks up a little bit."

Taylor was as quick as one of his breaks down the left flank to highlight the impact of the travelling trio.

"Smudge (Smith) has set up Procs, so that's all three of us involved," he said. "When we were celebrating, I said: 'The car school's flying!' 

"I'm taking them home today. I'll stop off and get Procs a Lucozade or something. He deserves one."

The scenes as Rotherham equalise in time added on

As the dust settled, 19th-placed Rotherham reflected on 26 efforts on goal to the Blades' six, an unbeaten run stretched to six matches and yet another promotion contender unable to lower their colours at New York.

"The players don't give up," Warne said. "We always harp on at them then when it's a one-goal deficit you're still in the game. If nothing else,you have to give the fans something to be proud of. 

"We've said from day one: 'You can play bad, that's fine, but you can't lack effort or determination.' Those things are essential to being a Rotherham player."

DAY TO REMEMBER

Images endured wherever you looked at the final whistle.

There was the respect between both benches, strong handshakes shared by strong characters, men in black coming together in mutual appreciation.

Will Vaulks - skipper for the day, competitor every day, the goalline-clearer of a 40th-minute close-range David McGoldrick shot which could have ended Rotherham's hopes - stood in salute of the West Stand, the bond between leader and supporters evident and heartwarming.

Ryan Williams, brought off in the dying minutes after running the Blades to distraction, looked happy but spent; utterly spent.

Warne spoke from the heart again: "Those moments when you're in the corner with your mates and you realise what you've done ... they're pretty monumental. That's why I'm involved in football, that's why you write about it. 

"You don't know what you're going to get. It's not scripted threatre. For some reason at this stadium this season, theatre is what it seems to be."

Then there was Taylor. His marker, Kieron Freeman, was glad to see the back of him. In truth, the back of him was all the Blades man had seen for much of the contest as the little winger left him chasing shadows.

Now Tayls bounced around sporting a cartoon smile far too big for his 5ft 5in frame.

Him, Procs and Smudge: car-mates, goal-mates.

The Millers as a whole: teammates, soulmates.

Rotherham (4-4-1-1): Marek Rodak; Zak Vyner, Semi Ajayi, Clark Robertson, Joe Mattock; Ryan Williams, Will Vaulks, Ryan Manning, Jon Taylor; Richie Towell; Michael Smith. Subs not used: Lewis Price, Richard Wood, Ben Wiles, Matt Palmer.

Subs: Joe Newell (for Manning, 62 minutes), Kyle Vassell (for Vyner, 87), Jamie Proctor (for Williams, 87).

Sheffield United (3-5-2): Dean Henderson; Chris Basham, John Egan, Jack O'Connell; Kieron Freeman, John Fleck, Oli Norwood, Enda Stevens, Mark Duffy; David McGoldrick, Billy Sharp. Subs not used: Simon Moore, George Baldock, Paul Coutts, Conor Washington.

Subs: Leon Clarke (for McGoldrick, 62), Richard Stearman (for Duffy, 87), Marvin Johnson (for Sharp, 90).

Goals: Taylor 65, Proctor 90+2 (Rotherham); Duffy 8, Basham 85 (Sheffield United).

Attendance: 11,607 (2,601).

Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).