Rotherham United boss Steve Evans laments lack of 'killer edge' against Wrexham

Paul Mullin’s first league goal of the season earned Wrexham a hard-fought 1-0 win at the New York Stadium.

But Millers’ boss Steve Evans, watching the game from the directors’ box due to a dugout ban, admitted his side’s sloppy start proved costly but argued they didn’t deserve to lose.

“We paid the price for the opening five minutes, which wasn’t us,” he lamented. “Straight from the kick-off, we didn’t compete for the first ball or for the cross into the striker.

“Then Paul Mullin did what Paul Mullin does. After that first five minutes, the game then settled down and we had nearly 70 per cent of possession, 17 shots, numerous corners, numerous free-kicks and were on the wrong end of numerous bad decisions but Wrexham found a way to win a game they shouldn’t have done.

“There were also big moments and big chances. One fell to Sam Nombe and strikers at the top level in this league score the goal and get you back in the game but, while we played some very good football, we lacked that killer edge.

“A couple of their lads, who have played for me in the past, admitted they don’t know how they won the game but they won it because they showed a great resolve which Phil has built there.”

Mullin, who has plundered more than a century of goals for the Dragons during the last three campaigns, was handed only his second league start this term following an injury to top scorer Jack Marriott.

And the 29-year-old striker responded in familiar fashion, netting the only goal just 16 seconds after kick-off by bundling in after a raid down the right and enticing ball into the six-yard box by wing-back Ryan Barnett.

The early strike meant the Millers had conceded first for the fifth time in their last six home games and their best attempts at a leveller before the break saw Joe Rafferty fizz a 12-yard drive wide and Jamie McCart fail to convert at the far post.

After the break, a James McClean effort was headed away from goal by McCart while, at the other end, Cameron Humphreys wastefully missed the target after the ball dropped to him in the box.

Mullin was denied a second goal following a smart low save by Cameron Dawson but one proved enough as the Welsh club ended a run of five straight defeats to Rotherham, stretching back to 1997.

Afterwards, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson hailed Paul Mullin’s “brilliant” return to the line-up.

"He did what he’s done time and time for us,” said Parkinson. “We all know he’s a great player with an ability to score all types of goals and I’m really pleased for him.

“He’s started four games this season, including in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, and scored three goals, so that’s still a really, really good record and his all-round performance was brilliant.

“There’s a lot of expectancy on Paul because of what he’s done for us as a club but he’s come back into the team firing and played a big part in a gritty, resilient away performance.”

Rotherham United: Dawson, Rafferty, Humphreys, McCart, James (Holmes 55), Tiehi, Powell, Wilks (Hugill 78), Odofin (Hungbo 70), Bramall, Nombe. Unused substitutes: Phillips, MacDonald, Kelly, McWilliams.

Wrexham: Okonkwo, Barnett, O'Connell, Scarr, O'Connor, McClean, Cannon (Rathbone 62), Dobson, Lee, Palmer (Fletcher 70), Mullin. Unused substitutes: Burton, Brunt, Bolton, Revan, Faal.

Referee: Ben Atkinson (Derbyshire).