Rotherham United 2 Chesterfield 1: Paul Mullin and Millers start to rediscover mojo
ON a day when Rotherham remembered Dolly Parton's unique contribution to the town, it was a case of 'here you come again' for Paul Mullin.
The Millers' marquee summer recruit reacquainted himself with the goal trail after a fallow 2026 so far and reminded everyone that he has not gone away in his quest to become a force to be reckoned with in lower-division circles again.
And how Rotherham United will need him in the weeks and months ahead.
After Jack Simpson’s slip, he was away in an instant, shortly after a late Chesterfield penalty had seemingly broken home hearts - with Liam Mandeville proving successful where Tom Bradshaw most definitely wasn’t with his 41st-minute spot-kick.
The lofted finish past Spireites keeper Ryan Boot was unerring. A rewind to the Mullin of those early years of harvest at Wrexham and Cambridge. Never in doubt.
Boss Alex Bruce said: "Not just me, but I think everybody in the ground probably thought that when he was one on one with the keeper, you wouldn't want anybody else in that position. He showed his quality and it was a great finish."
It was a day for reminders in truth.
It will take time for the Millers to rediscover their mojo on the pitch after three pretty brutal seasons.
This was a glimpse into happier times of yore when they got in the faces of opponents, possessed a streetwise game plan and found a way.
Their long-suffering supporters badly need something to buy into and this was a start. It wasn’t perfect, but it was never going to be. Not yet.
There was mirth in telling their Chesterfield counterparts to stick the town’s famed crooked spire up a certain part of their anatomy in the aftermath to Mullin’s magic moment. Prior to that, there was something more significant. A few chants of ‘Alex Bruce’s red and white army.’
It pointed towards connections being forged between a new-look side - thrown in at ‘the deep end’ according to Bruce - those in the dug-outs and those behind them in the stands.
The late drama of the afternoon and the fact that the Millers were playing a rival from just down the road enhanced that feeling. And if Bruce could have chosen the perfect manner of his first Millers win, this was surely the way to do it?.
His riposte was swift on what he labelled a 'rollercoaster' afternoon.
"Easy for you to say..’, he observed.
"It was a proper derby, wasn't it? Listen, I'm sure over the course of the season, there'll be days when we don't come out the right side, but as long as the supporters see the team play in that manner.
"I think the longer the game went on, the crowd really got into it and that was really pleasing to see.”
The Millers chief, an agitated figure in those long final moments when the Millers were on the cusp of their maiden win under his watch and first at home since February 28 - also spoke of the club getting the ‘monkey off our backs’ and was right to.
On the day, Chesterfield gorged on possession, but also ran into Rotherham traps.
Sat in a mid-block, the hosts choose their times to counter-attack pretty well. In midfield, Ewan Otoo was never far away from play-maker Nathan Stirk, while Kian Spence snapped away at anything and everything.
It was a proper midfield performance for someone who looks to be a proper Rotherham United player.
Otoo delivered the telling assist for the Millers’ opener after Chesterfield’s backline were opened up and provided a sign of things to come.
Fabio Tavares kept his cool to waltz around Boot and finish neatly. On the day, he could have taken home the match-ball and one late miss looked to be fateful ahead of Mullin time.
At the back, Sonny Aljofree looked the part - Bruce called his display ‘excellent - until one critical lapse on 88 minutes when he fouled Spireites substitute Fraser Bryden in the box.
There was still time for one more twist. ‘9 to 5' did the rounds ahead of the game and Chesterfield clocked off before their work was done.
And the songs in homage to Dolly continued afterwards. ‘Jolene’ got an airing in the home dressing room. A winning dressing room.
Rotherham United: Cann, Adegboyega (Rafferty 58), Aljofree, Otoo; Hall, Cover, Ngwenya, Buyabu (Austerfield 64); Spence, Tavares (Martha 81); Bradshaw (Mullin 64). Substitutes unused: Eyestone, Ashley.
Chesterfield: Boot; Hutton, McFadzean, Simpson, Gordon (Owolabi-Belewu 81); McEachran (Lamptey 82), Stirk; Markanday (Anisjko 81), Mandeville, Koroma (Naylor 70); Bonis (Bryden 60). Substitutes unused: Pond, Eccleston.
Referee: S Stockbridge (Tyne and Wear).