Rotherham United 1 Middlesbrough 0: Millers' miracle worker leaves Boro frustrated

When playfully asked whether he merited a ‘Messiah’ status after orchestrating Rotherham United’s second successive win at the weekend – at Sheffield Wednesday of all places – the Millers boss quipped he might have difficulty walking on water to his pond without assistance just yet.

But after last night’s last-gasp victory over another leading Championship vessel in Middlesbrough, those chances have significantly improved, metaphorically speaking.

Lee Frecklington has scored some choice goals in the relatively short history of the NYS, showing a particular penchant for dramatic late strikes and he pulled out another one from his repertoire to secure a famous win for the hosts.

Warnock may only be six games into his Rotherham tenure, but he has already equalled a piece of history.

Namely becoming the first Millers manager to preside over three successive second-tier wins since Ronnie Moore did it back in December 2003.

You have to go back to New Year’s Day 1966 for the previous occasion that a Rotherham boss savoured victory over Boro – with Jack Mansell at the helm during a 4-1 win when The Beatles were at No 1 with Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out.

Speaking of fixing things, the issues after last night clearly belonged not to Warnock, but Aitor Karanka, with his promotion chasing side – on a night when they could have pulled six points clear of Yorkshire rivals Hull City – fluffing their lines en route to a crushing loss.

Another addition to some bitter episodes on the road in the Championship transpired, with Boro having now taken just one point from new year visits to the lowly trio of Rotherham, MK Dons and Bristol City.

Karanka spoke about yesterday’s trip having all the makings of his side’s toughest remaining fixture and he was clearly onto something.

It proved a massively frustrating night for the Spaniard, whose side dominated in the first half and could – and should – have been a couple of goals in front.

But they could not maintain the momentum, perhaps deflated by several guilt-edged misses and the Millers sensed the visitors’ growing anxiety as the half wore on and claimed their ultimate reward two minutes from time.

Despite suffering a bit of a first-half pounding, the Millers regrouped at the break and proceeded to win their individual battles in the second half and showed more desire than Boro, who got more agitated as the game went on – and lost their way.The sting in the tail arrived when Frecklington fired home high past Dimi Konstantpoulos from sub Jonson Clarke Harris’s cross.

A first-half played out in a mizzle saw the good and the bad displayed in equal measure in an attacking sense by the Teessiders, who tidily manufactured several clear-cut opportunities in a dominant show, but criminally failed to take one.

The sublime arrived 20 minutes in courtesy of an illuminating moment from Gaston Ramirez, whose delightful curling free-kick hit the inside of the post – with the Millers also afforded two other big let-offs in the opening half.

Both were episodes that David Nugent won’t care to dwell upon with the first coming on 16 minutes when he raced clear following an error from Richard Wood, only to show a distinct lack of composure in firing over.

Ten minutes before the break, the striker also headed wide with the goal at his mercy following Albert Adomah’s pinpoint cross.

Looking fluid on the counter attack, with Ramirez pulling the strings, Boro were slick and easy on the eye, but lacked predatory punch. Ramirez went close with two other chances, but Boro’s profligacy gave the hosts, who had their moments from set-pieces and showed some vigour on the counter themselves, hope.

Greg Halford’s hooked shot which drifted just wide before the break was the Millers’ best moment and a reminder that they were still very much in proceedings. The introduction of Stewart Downing failed to swing the initiative back in Boro’s favour; his pullback being blazed over by Ramirez.

Jordan Rhodes had been thrown belatedly into the fray in Boro’s quest to nick a winner, but the telling development arrived at the other end through Frecklington. Halford was dismissed for a second yellow card before Adomah saw a late chance to equalise, blocked.

Rotherham United: Camp; Richardson (Kelly 25), Wood, Broadfoot, Mattock; Halford, Smallwood, Frecklington, Thomas (Clarke-Harris 75); Derbyshire, Best (D Ward 58). Unused substitutes: Kenny, Green, Newell, G Ward.

Middlesbrough: Dimi; Nsue, Fry, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Forshaw; Stuani (Downing 64), Ramirez, Adomah; Nugent (Rhodes 75). Unused substitutes: Agazzi, Leadbitter, De Pena, De Sart, Kalas.

Referee: P Bankes (Merseyside).