Rotherham United 2 Newport County 2: Details make Millers architects of own downfall

A team in need of a shot of confidence could hardly have asked for better than two goals inside the first 15 minutes at the New York Stadium.

But even when they looked to be keeping the Exiles at arm's length, the Millers still made the slips, which undid all their good work.

Julian Eyestone was the programme's cover star and poster boy but his mistake, on top of those from Jamie Jellis and Hamish Douglas, left his side having to make do with a 2-2 draw.

The turnout on a bleak South Yorkshire night was understandably sparse given the Millers had not won in six but it did nothing to deter a home side who plumped up a cushion early on. As it turns out, they needed it.

Newport were unbeaten in seven games in all competitions but winless away from home in League Two this season, so make of that what you will when it came to their confidence, but they refused to give in in front of 216 hardy travelling fans.

Those in attendance were there to support – despite the miserable plotline there was no repeat of the "Stewart out!" chants directed at chairman Tony from the away end at Fleetwood Town on Saturday.

But they booed at the full-time whistle, right enough. We all have our limits.

Some of it was for referee Callum Jones, but not all.

Coach Alex Bruce ditched the back three formation that has been his trademark so far at the New York Stadium and was quickly rewarded.

He sent out a four man defence with Jayce Fitzgerald anchoring it. There were four more midfielders in front of him, although Jili Buyabu on the left was much nearer centre-forward Paul Mullin on the left.

The game was not three minutes old when Joe Thomas handled in his area. Mullin hammered the penalty down the middle whilst Jordan Wright dived to his right.

Jellis produced a poor miss in the ninth minute when Mullin resisted the urge to try to force Kian Spence's low ball in and instead picked out the midfielder, who ought at least to have hit the target.

Buyabu shot over from distance.

The Millers got a second in the 13th minute.

Fitzgerald was looking every inch the Manchester United loanee with his willingness to take the ball and elegance on it. The ball he threaded down the inside-right channel and Aaron Nemane raced onto it and finished coolly.

Both had been rewarded with starts after impressing from the bench in a largely fairly dismal day at Highbury on the Saturday.

From there, Rotherham seemed to have the game in a holding pattern, neither bombarding the Exiles' goal, nor having to batten down the hatches.

But all it took was one slip to make things nervous.

Douglas got there late as he was dragged across his penalty area to deal with Adu-Poku. Eyestone guessed correctly and may evn have got som glove on the penalty by Harrison Biggins – son of former Barnsley striker Wayne - but could not keep it out.

Rotherham got back on the front foot, but a Jellis shot was smothered by a defender and whilst an excellent Fitzgerald touch on a ricochet off th recalled Joe Rafferty allowed him to win a corner, it came to nothing.

To their credit, Rotherham got back on the front hoot as soon as the game resumed after half-time, Spence volleying wide within a couole of minutes.

Wright made a double save from Mullin and Dominic Iorfa – the first good, the second excellent.

But within a minute Newport were level.

Jellis gave the ball away deep in Millers' territory trying to be too clever by half on it. Adu-Poku's speculative shot was innocuous but still Eyestone spilt it and Biggins picked out Ged Garner to find the empty net.

You could feel the hosts deflate.

From there it was half-moments for both sides, Rafferty running onto a chance but blazing it over, Newport substitute Matt Smith putting a shot wide, a Fitzgerald effort closed down and Nemane skipping past his man and feeding Rafferty for a low cross nobody was able to give the touch it was begging for.

A Spence pass back to the central defenders in the 85th minute drew frustrated boos.

Kyle Cameron shot over in the confusion caused by a Biggins free-kick Douglas conceded at the byline in the 89th minute.

Days after dropping into it, Rotherham are out of the relegation zone, but having played two games more than those in it, it was cold comfort. It should have been so much better.

A blow of the whistle when Mullin and Lee Jenkins went down in the penalty area briefly got some fans excited in the 88th minute, but the upshot was just a telling off for the veteran striker.

It's the hope that kills you.

Rotherham United: Eyestone; Rafferty, Iorfa, Douglas, Hall (Ngwenya 73); Fitzgerald; Nemane, Jellis, Spence (Bradshaw 86), Buyabu (Lolos 64); Mullin.

Unused substitutes: Cann, Austerfield, Aljofree, Cover.

Newport County: Wright; Norman, Jenkins, Cameron, Thomas, Merritt (Smith HT); Dibley-Dias, Brennan; Biggins, Adu-Poku (Bamba 60); Garner (Etete 60).

Unused substitutes: C Evans, K Evans, MacDonald, Sassi.

Referee: C Jones (Bootle).