Rotherham United 4 Crewe Alexandra 2: ‘Industrious’ Millers battle to earn victory

Crewe went ahead on 11 minutes after Ajay Leitch-Smith’s shot hit a post and rebounded to Bradden Inman, who netted.

The early goal boosted Crewe and Rotherham initially lacked fluency, but they recovered to produce a spell of pressure which led to an equaliser on 29 minutes.

Robert Milsom and Mark Bradley set up the chance for Kieran Agard, who shifted the ball adroitly to set up a shot which sped in for his 13th goal of the season.

Crewe regained the lead just after the hour mark when Agard failed with an attempted clearance and Kelvin Mellor spun and shot through a crowd of players.

But it took Rotherham only six minutes to regain parity, Frecklington netting a penalty after loanee Tom Hitchcock had been brought down by Mark Ellis.

Then, after Crewe had been awarded, and missed, a penalty, Ben Pringle’s cross from the left was headed home at the far post by Alex Revell.

Frecklington wrapped up the points with his second goal in the 90th minute from Hitchcock’s set-up.

“We’ve certainly not played at our best for spells, but I think we generally controlled for large periods,” said Rotherham manager Steve Evans.

“I think over the 90, if we’d have lost it would have been unfair. The quality of goals, certainly the third goal, was very, very special.

“We had to hang in, show grit and determination, and the other side of football. We can’t turn up at the New York Stadium and play the type of football every week that we tend to turn on here, which is really special for the level. This was more industrious.”

Rotherham United: Collin, Bradley (Brindley 90), Addison, Arnason, Tavernier, Agard, Frecklington, Milsom (O’Connor 83), Pringle, Revell, Vuckic (Hitchcock 61). Unused substitutes: Shearer, Skarz, Walker, Rowe.

Crewe Alexandra: Garratt, Mellor, Davis, Ellis, Tootle, Moore, Osman, Grant, Inman, Aneke, Leitch-Smith (Pogba 81). Unused substitutes: Ray, Martin, Guthrie, Nolan, Oliver, Evans.

Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire).

Man of the match: Alex Revell.