Millers weather the storm after early reality check

So, welcome to League Two.

The Millers may have had a glance around the porch and the hallway previously, but when they stepped into the lounge here somebody jumped from behind the door and quickly began whacking them round the head.

Startled, they managed to gather themselves by dodging behind the settee before recovering enough composure to stand their ground and then fight their corner.

Yes, there may be gifts at this level but there's rarely a welcome mat when you go visiting and the occupants can get very noisy indeed and decidedly unfriendly.

Of course, it can all be good, knockabout stuff and if the Millers are going to emerge unscathed after the sort of start they had here, then that suggests they may be on the right lines.

Which is not what myself or the 1,000 Millers followers would have been thinking as Stockport put them through the ringer in a torrid start.

I think more than one or two in the all white with black trim (the new away kit) were surprised by how Stockport set about them.

The early impact of the big front two, Matt McNeil and Liam Dickinson, and Stockport's forward drive in general,had Rotherham reeling and exposed.

For 15 minutes or so, the front pair looked as big and as awkward a handful as you could expect to meet at this level - except you can expect a good few more along the way.

So, armed with this experience, the Millers might not get bitten so easily a second time. This first 20 minutes was probably a wake-up call.

When McNeil bowled over Graham Coughlan as prelude to a second minute let-off which should have been a goal, Stockport were off and running.

Both players had gone close even before Andy Warrington again kept his one-v-one record intact, Dickinson going the way of a few others already as the giant keeper diverted his shot wide.

But it only briefly delayed a goal because from the 13th-minute corner, taken short, David Poole's lovely inswinging cross saw Anthony Elding's well-timed run leave Rother-ham flat-footed as he headed in.

Whether it was a hand or a push it was difficult to tell but a linesman spotted something and it was ruled out.

But Rotherham didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser their play was threatening, although there was some home anger over it.

There was nothing wrong with the quality of Stephen Brogan’s delivery or Sharps’ finishing header.

Home complaint centred on when ref Neil Swarbrick blew his whistle. It hadn’t gone when Peter Holmes ran up as if to take it. That was the kidology and players of both sides reacted as if he was curling in an inswinger.

But as Brogan moved forward from a different angle, the whistle went (to go-ahead) although it seemed to make no difference as Sharps closed in for the header.

There were Stockport complaints, none more so than from manager Jim Gannon who had heated words before being sent to the stand.

Well, this only served to fire up the home faithful who displayed a fetching combination of partisan hollering and one-eyed support.

They upped the volume, not least in baying for every decision, correct or not - and particularly if it went Rotherham’s way.

Note to Millmoor faithful ... please be as partisan and one-eyed as you want, by all means!

It was the sort of incident that seems to fire up fans and players and, from being not much of a threat this half, County suddenly found a new lease of life. And it helps when the fans, miffed by perceived injustice, roar at the most insignificant incident.

On 69 minutes, they were cheering a goal. Proudlock made his only contribution of note with a corner that swung beyond the far post and, just to rub it in, little Griffin stooped to head in.

Perhaps he was so small, somebody missed him!

Rotherham’s response was to level in three minutes.

Those with a simplistic notion that you put enough balls into the penalty area at this level and you’re bound to get gifted plenty along the way, would have nodded at this one. But young Brogan, who overcame a difficult first half to become a prominent second-half performer, did more than just stick it in the area.

It was good delivery from the other side this time and striker McNeil couldn’t have done a better job at the other end as he headed firmly into his own net.

Thereafter both sides could have won it.

Derek Holmes measured a 22-yard volley and it dipped just over while Rotherham had the biggest let-off when Elding hit the post with six minutes left.

In the 89th minute, Marcus Bean was inches from the winner after Andy Todd pulled the back across and, on the second-half evidence, it would not have been undeserved.

But you have to say this result was just about right - and a reminder that few things will be straightforward on the League Two travels.Rotherham could have been rolled over but, to their credit, they began to settle and two or three who had seen the game by-passing them, began to become meaningfully involved. Others stood their ground better and things slowly improved

.By the time Derek Holmes planted a header just wide from a Dale Tonge cross, Rotherham were showing encouraging signs not only of coping, but doing more than that.

It appeared the loss of Dickinson and Poole at half-time did have some detrimental effect on the home side but it is the sort of good fortune you have to pocket and the Millers did that.

In fact, right from the start of the second half, Rotherham exerted a semblance of control, passing purposefully and moving forward with menace.

Derek Holmes, leading the line well, saw his 22-yarder force a superb save. From the corner, an Ian Sharps header into a crowd of players ended with the ball in the net.

Manager's View

We could have won it, could have lost it, but, all in all, a just result.

I said it would be a tough game and it was. They'd done their homework on us and they made it difficult for us, but teams will do that.

We were slow off the bus and for 15/20 minutes had not started and not got near anybody.

Thankfully, they did not go on and finish us off. They outfought us early on but we came into it when we started passing the ball.

I thought we did well in the second half and it was great delivery for the goal.

But their second goal was disappointing, we switched off slightly.

A good result? I think so.