The derby win that got away: the story of Sheffield Wednesday 2 Rotherham United 2

The clock said 77 minutes. As Michael Smith played in Will Vaulks with a lovely cushioned volley right in front of 2,406 expectant Rotherham United fans and the midfielder shaped to shoot, everything else said 'goal'.

Vaulks pulled the trigger. Just wide, agonisingly wide. The score remained at 2-2, the South Yorkshire spoils would be shared and the chance for Vaulks to join Joe McBride, Richie Barker, Darren Garner and Matt Derbyshire in the pantheon of Millers S6 match-winning legends was gone.

This was the derby victory that went begging for Rotherham. Wednesday - on the slide, bereft of confidence, with their manager under fire and boos from home supporters bouncing on to the turf like the incessant rain - were there for the taking.

"I'm disappointed that Will's effort didn't go in," said Warne. "I thought if anyone was going to score a winner at the Rotherham end at Hillsborough for a 3-2 win, it was destined to be him."

Vaulks, the epitome of everything that is good about Rotherham under Paul Warne, is maybe the most honest, wholehearted character of all in a dressing room full of honest, wholehearted characters.

He bent his body in frustration and held his head in his hands after his miss, much like many followers in the Leppings Lane end who couldn't believe the net wasn't bulging. He knew, they knew. Nobody needed telling.

THE GAME

The Millers marched out for kick-off making an immediate statement of intent.

As Wednesday's players huddled in their tracksuit tops against the elements, Warne's men, led out by Richard Wood, were short-sleeved, resolute, ready to battle. Rain? What rain?

Semi Ajayi

The first half was played almost entirely in Owls territory, Rotherham dominating to such an extent that Jos Luhukay's team were still booed off at the break despite taking a wholly undeserved lead on the stroke of half-time when Lucas Joao took advantage of poor defending by Semi Ajayi and Zak Vyner to drill the ball past Marek Rodak.

Despite the visitors' dominance, only a Jon Taylor shot and a Michael Smith header had called Owls goalkeeper Cameron Dawson into action.

"I told the lads at half-time that in the second half, with the wind, we would definitely get in behind Wednesday," said Warne whose squad remain 20th in the Championship and still seeking their first away triumph after a seventh draw in nine outings.

"In the first half, because they gave us time on the ball, which we are not normally blessed with, the lads didn't know what to do with it possibly. It made the lads make decisions they don't normally have to make.

"We encouraged them at half-time to turn Wednesday, make them run. I have got really good athletes, determined men."

No-one on the day, on either side, was as good or as determined as Smith and the striker had the Millers level just 15 seconds into the second period.

From the moment he latched  on to Vaulks' superb long pass, everything was perfect as he outpaced Michael Hector, got the angle of his run just right and the angle of his curling shot into the far corner even better.

Nine minutes later, supporters from both clubs were singing in unison at Luhukay "You're getting sacked in the morning" as Richie Towell tried his luck with a 20-yard shot that went straight through Dawson.

"Luckily, straight after half-time we got the goal and then got the second," Warne said. "The sad thing for us at the minute is we don't take enough chances to give ourselves a two-goal cushion.

"At 2-1 down at Hillsborough, Wednesday are always going to come back at you."

Helped by a miscued Ajayi clearance, the Owls duly did come back. A Daniel Pudil long throw should have been given height and distance by the Rotherham centre-half but was sent weakly back to the Czech substitute whose subsequent 64th-minute cross was headed in by Joao.

Richie Towell shoots

Towell could have won it in the 85th minute, brilliantly working himself the space for a shot only to fire over. A goal then would have put a fair slant on the scoreline.

In the dying seconds, Atdhe Nuhiu had the net at his mercy for the Owls but made a mess of his connection with an Adam Reach cross. A goal then would have been a travesty.

"I thought we were the better team, the more aggressive team," Warne said. "We didn't come here with a sitting midfielder, we came here with a 4-4-1-1. We tried to get at them.

"I thought our second-half performance was good and we created enough opportunities in the end to win the game."

MICHAEL SMITH

Wednesday's defence didn't know what to do with Smith in the second half. He was too quick on the ground, too agile in the air, too strong in possession, too deft with his touch.

His link-up play was faultless and he took his stunning goal with the assurance of a player who does that every week. I'm glad he doesn't because if he did he wouldn't be with Rotherham.

The Owls resorted to unlawful means, pulling, pushing, jostling, arms and fouls everywhere. He stood his ground. Wednesday aren't the first team this season to discover you don't budge Smudge.

His performance, like that of his team, deserved victory. But there would be no champion of 2018, no glory, just a point against teetering opposition at the ground where Millers legends have been made in the past.

The 77th minute, Vaulks, head in hands. "I thought it was written in the stars for Will," said Warne. "But it wasn't to be."

Rotherham's midfield man spurned his big chance. The Millers, collectively, missed an even bigger one.

Sheffield Wednesday (3-5-2): Cameron Dawson; Tom Lees, Michael Hector, Jordan Thorniley; Ash Baker, Barry Bannan, Joey Pelupessy, Adam Reach, Morgan Fox; Lucas Joao, Atdhe Nuhiu. Subs not used: Joe Wildsmith, Liam Palmer, Josh Onamah, Matt Penney, Steven Fletcher.

Subs: Daniel Pudil (for Thorniley, H-T), Marco Matias (for Pelupessy, 77 minutes).

Rotherham United (4-4-1-1): Marek Rodak; Zak Vyner, Semi Ajayi, Richard Wood, Joe Mattock; Anthony Forde, Will Vaulks, Richie Towell, Jon Taylor; Ryan Williams; Michael Smith. Subs not used: Laurence Bilboe, Sean Raggett, Matt Palmer, Ryan Manning, Joe Newell, Jamie Proctor.

Subs: Ben Wiles (for Forde, 74).

Goals: Joao 45+1, 64 (Wednesday); Smith 46, Towell 55 (Rotherham).

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).

Attendance: 24,775 (2,406).