Rotherham United 3 Oxford United 1: O’Connor at double for Millers

The U’s enjoyed the perfect start, taking the lead on just eight minutes when the hosts switched off following Jake Forster-Caskey’s cross with Rigg firing home low past Scott Shearer.

The shock kick-started the hosts into life and they pushed forward for an equaliser before being eventually rewarded on the half-hour when they were awarded a penalty.

Lionel Ainsworth’s close-range shot hit the bar with Kayode Odejayi ready to fire home the rebound, only to be felled by Batt.

It all began with a long throw from Arnason which Sharps headed on. It dropped to Ainsworth who looked sure to score but struck his close range effort against the bar. Odejayi got to the rebound first and was toppled near the byline by Damian Batt.

O’Connor took on spot-kick duties with regular taker Danny Nardiello on the bench, firing home.

After the break, sub Kieran Agard saw a header saved and the former Yeovil man then was crowded out when well placed after the break with the Millers eventually finding the all-important breakthrough 16 minutes from time.

The overlapping Nicky Hunt’s cross was laid back by Odejayi and O’Connor fired home a precision strike into the corner.

Shearer then saved superbly twice to deny the visitors a leveller and after Kari Arnason’s header was cleared off the line, sub Jason Taylor sealed the win by side-footing home the hosts’ third late on.

Millers: Shearer, Hunt, Morgan, Sharps, Harris, Ainsworth, O’Connor (Bradley 90), Arnason, Evans (Agard 57), Pringle (Taylor 84), Odejayi. Subs not used: Warrington, Mullins, Nardiello, Noble.

Oxford: Brown, Raynes, Wright, Worley (Leven 63), Batt, Potter, Cox, Forster-Caskey (Constable 81), Capaldi, Rigg, Craddock (Smalley 56). Subs not used: Clarke, Heslop, O’Brien, Boateng.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancs).

Attendance: 7,258.