Rotherham United ended their long wait for an away win with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Northampton Town. Paul Mullin's 72nd-minute penalty secured the three points and a first clean sheet on the road this season.
Alex Bruce's side climbed to 14th in the League Two table with the result, now on nine points from seven games. The win at Sixfield Stadium, witnessed by 716 travelling fans in a crowd of 5,771, broke an eight-match winless run against the Cobblers and provided a vital morale boost after three seasons without success.
The match was settled by a single decisive moment. Tom Bradshaw's pass sent Mullin through, and the forward was brought down to earn a penalty. Mullin stepped up and powered his shot home for his third goal of the campaign. Manager Alex Bruce praised the striker's composure. "He put his foot through it, he takes them properly, doesn't he?" Bruce said.
It was a performance built on resilience rather than flair. Bruce admitted his team had played better in some of their draws but stressed the importance of grinding out results. "We've got Mull-in, Super Paul Mull-in," he added, referencing the fans' new chant to the tune of a Billy Ray Cyrus hit. The manager said the clean sheet pleased him more than anything, providing the solid base he has demanded.
New signing Dominic Iorfa made his debut at centre-half and played for an hour before being substituted. Goalkeeper Julian Eyestone secured the shutout behind a back three, with the team operating in a 3-5-2 formation. The final whistle sparked celebrations, with the entire squad going to the away end to share the moment with supporters who continued singing Mullin's song long after the game.
The victory, following a 3-3 draw with Salford City and a defeat to Bristol Rovers, improves Rotherham's recent form to two wins, two draws and one loss in their last five outings. The team now prepares to host Crewe Alexandra at home next Saturday, with Crewe currently sitting ninth in the table. Bruce will hope this ugly win is the foundation for a more consistent run. Check the latest standings to see how the table looks ahead of that clash.
Background and full detail: Rotherham Advertiser
