Rotherham 3 Oldham 2: Millers rewarded by Nardiello’s hat-trick

Daniel Nardiello scored a hat-trick, including a stoppage-time winner, as Rotherham United stayed fourth with this win over 10-man Oldham at the New York Stadium.

Nardiello put the Millers in front from the spot in the 21st minute and Oldham’s task got harder when David Mellor was sent off five minutes before the break.

But Cristian Montano equalised in the 44th minute and the visitors grabbed a shock lead nine minutes later through Matteo Lanzoni.

Nardiello made it 2-2 with a glancing header before snatching the points in stoppage time.

Millers manager Steve Evans was naturally pleased with the win, but commented: “We dominated for large periods so we should not have found ourselves looking for a late winner.

“However, this group of players will always go to the end and give everything they have. Everyone at Rotherham United is pulling that rope in the same direction.

“There is incredible unity and I am proud of that. What I do know for a fact is that not every dressing room has it – we do.”

Evans did not feel Oldham going down to 10 men proved much of a factor, adding: “It made no difference whether Oldham had 11 or 10 men, we dominated when they had both and played on the counter attack.

“But I was impressed with them. There is no doubt they have a number of talented players and, like my lads, gave everything they had. The match was a great spectacle to watch but no one could dispute we did not deserve to win after we laid siege to the visitors’ goal for the last 30 minutes.”

Evans says he is hopeful of supplementing his squad during the loan transfer window and said Rotherham ‘have formally agreed’ with a Championship club to take a player.

He said: “The lad will be asked by his manager in the morning for his thoughts on joining us and all being well I will get permission to have a chat with the lad.”

Rotherham United: Shearer, Brindley, Davis (Mills 65), Arnason, Skarz, Agard (Tubbs 79), Frecklington, Milsom, Pringle, Revell, Nardiello (Tidser 90). Unused substitutes: Hylton, Bradley, Collin,Rowe.

Oldham Athletic: Oxley, Lanzoni, Kusunga, Grounds, Mills, Schmeltz, Mellor, Smith, Montano (Rusnak 83), Rooney (Clarke-Harris 66), Philliskirk (Wesolowski 45). Unused substitutes: MacDonald, Rachubka, Winchester, Rodgers.

Referee: R Clark (Northumberland).