MATCH REPORT: Rotherham United fall to late equaliser against Blackburn Rovers

ROTHERHAM United had to settle for a point against fellow Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers at 

the AESSEAL New York Stadium after conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1.

Nippy Winger Jon Taylor gave Paul Warne's men the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, but a Stephen Kelly own goal with five minutes remaining meant the visitors left with a share of the spoils.

The opening period highlighted why both teams are at the wrong end of the table, with very few clear cut chances either way.

Millers right back Kelly found himself in acres of space before shooting wide and moments later imposing forward Danny Graham let rip for the visitors, only to see his thunderous effort from the edge of the area whistle the wrong side of the post.

Taylor gave possession away cheaply in his own half which led to visiting skipper Jason Lowe curling a long-ranger on to the bar after 22 minutes.

That was the closest the Lancashire outfit came in the first period, but the Millers fashioned one more chance before the half time whistle blew.

Anthony Forde was found in space and fed the ball wide on the left to Joe Newell, whose clipped cross fell into the path of Tom Adeyemi, but the midfielder couldn't adjust his feet and his tame effort fell straight into the hands of Jason Steele.

There was more action in the opening five minutes of the second half than in the first period as a whole.

Taylor broke the deadlock just minutes in when he found himself in space to the right of the area, drilling low 

under Jason Steele, netting his side's first goal in four and a half games.

Blackburn could have been level moments later when Charlie Mulgrew met Craig Conway's corner, but Millers keeper Richard O'Donnell produced a wonderful save to palm onto the bar.

Paul Warne's men continued to push forward in hope of putting the game out of sight, with long range effort from Taylor and Newell producing saves from Steele.

But their failure to kill the game when on top was compounded when substitute Connor Mahoney whipped in a corner for the visitors, which was turned in to his own goal at the back post by Kelly.

From there it was the visitors who looked more likely to bag all three points, but when substitute Marvin Emnes nodded wide with moments left, the draw was sealed.

The result means the Millers remain at the foot of the Championship table, 14 points from safety, with promotion chasing Huddersfield Town next at the NYS on Tuesday evening.

Rotherham United (4-1-4-1): O'Donnell; Kelly, Ajayi, Wood (c), Purrington; Smallwood; Forde (Yates, 45), Adeyemi (Vaulks, 77), Newell, Taylor; Ward.

Subs not used: Bilboe, Mattock, Blackstock, Bray, Ekstrand 

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Steele; Nyambe, Mulgrew, Lenihan, Williams; Feeney (Mahoney, 68), Lowe (c), Bennett, Conway (Emnes, 68); Graham, Gallagher

Subs not used: Raya, Joao, Akpan, Guthrie, Brown

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands)

Attendance: 9,438 (1,195 visitors)