Rotherham 1 Tranmere 1: Millers left frustrated as Moore returns to steal point

Two previous visits to Rotherham – the town he still calls home – with Oldham Athletic and in his first stint as Tranmere manager yielded defeats at the now redundant Millmoor, across the dual carriageway from the Millers’ current swish abode.

But last night’s draw, achieved thanks to a coolly-taken penalty six minutes from time from former Sheffield Wednesday marksman Ryan Lowe, after Joe Skarz was penalised for a clumsy tackle on former United loan winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie, was perfect timing for the former Millers chief.

In his memorable first stint, Moore’s Rotherham did a fair few numbers on well-heeled rivals, particularly during the early part of this century thanks to a combination of graft and organisation.

His current side were at it last night, helped by a spot of luck.

For Steve Evans and the Millers – now three league games without a win – there was only frustration on a night when Kieron Agard’s fifth goal of the campaign on the hour looked to have secured three points for the hosts.

But Tranmere had other ideas courtesy of Lowe and after their sole league victories this term at Moore’s former side Oldham and a club where the Scouser is not exactly flavour of the month in Bradford City, this result will have also tasted pretty sweet.

The late penalty award was particularly galling for United given that referee Tony Harrington turned down a spot-kick appeal for a clear handball against Danny Holmes just before the hosts’ breakthrough.

While it was not a vintage showing from the depleted Millers, without the services of suspended duo Lee Frecklington and Michael O’Connor, Kari Arnason and David Worrall, they had more than enough chances to win.

After last season’s early-season feast – this time last year they topped the division – comes the famine for Tranmere, scratching around desperately for a result or two after six defeats in their previous seven matches.

Given Rovers’ position firmly in the mire in the bottom four, needs must and Moore would have been making no apologies for a safety-first approach designed to frustrate and nick a point.

A sea of blue Rovers shirts saturated their own half from the off and it looked likely to be an exercise in patience for the hosts, although they almost got off to a flyer inside the first 15 seconds when Ben Pringle’s snapshot was turned away by Owain Fon Williams.

After that, Tranmere set the tone and dug in to entrench themselves deep, with a moment of rare alarm ending in a weak Danny Nardiello header sailing wide before Fon Williams was forced into a spot of overtime.

The goalkeeper blocked efforts from Agard, Rob Milsom and Craig Morgan in quick succession with a shot from the former then flashing into the side netting.

Rovers, with little offensive threat, were then indebted to a clearance on the line by Steve Jennings to clear Tom Eaves’s header.

The run-up to half-time started to yield a touch or two of frustration among home fans, with Rovers even afforded the briefest of sniffs at goal when Jennings headed over.

A fierce strike from Pringle whizzed over on the restart before Jennings shot wide at the other end, but the Millers calmed their nerves with the opener when Agard fired home neatly from Pringle’s cross.

A controversial moment then saw visiting subsitute Cole Stockton fail to receive a red card for an elbow on Skarz before the ex-Huddersfield player played a hand in the visitors’ leveller.

A clumsy challenge from the full-back on Bell-Baggie led to a penalty, with Lowe sending Adam Collin – who barely had anything to do all night – the wrong way.

Substitute Matt Tubbs was inches wide with a late effort and appeals for a second penalty after Bell-Baggie went down were rejected.

Rotherham United: Collin; Brindley, Morgan, Mills, Skarz; Pringle, Milsom, Bradley, Agard; Eaves (Revell 68), Nardiello (Tubbs 78). Unused substitutes: Shearer, Tidser, D Rowe.

Tranmere Rovers: Fon Williams, Holmes, Taylor, McNulty, Hateley (Bell-Baggie 61), Kirby, Atkinson (J Rowe 90), Power, Jennings (Stockton 67), Ridehalgh, Lowe. Substitutes not used: Watkins, Horwood, Sodje, Koumas.

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).