Rotherham United snatched a dramatic first League Two win of the season with a 2-1 stoppage-time victory over Chesterfield at AESSEAL New York Stadium. Paul Mullin scored his first goal for the club in the 90th minute to seal the three points for Alex Bruce's side, as reported by the Rotherham Advertiser this week.
Fabio Tavares had given the Millers an early lead in the 12th minute, finishing from an Ewan Otoo assist. The home side dominated the first half but saw Tom Bradshaw miss a penalty in the 40th minute. Chesterfield, who reached the play-offs last season, grew into the game and equalised through an 87th-minute Liam Mandeville penalty. Mullin's late intervention sparked wild celebrations among the 9,291 crowd, which included 2,285 travelling fans.
How did Rotherham set up for the win?
Manager Alex Bruce made three changes from the side that drew with York City. Tom Bradshaw and Kieran Ngwenya were handed their first starts, while Emmanuel Adegboyega returned to the back three due to Lenny Agbaire's injury. The team lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Ted Cann in goal. Adegboyega, Sonny Aljofree and Ngwenya formed the defensive line, shielded by a midfield of Denzel Hall, Kian Spence, Brandon Cover, Otoo and Jili Buyabu. Tavares and Bradshaw led the attack.
Bruce's changes worked. Tavares was a constant threat and hit the post in the 74th minute. The manager then introduced Josh Austerfield for his debut alongside Mullin in the 64th minute. Joe Rafferty replaced the injured Adegboyega on the hour mark, and Ar'Jany Martha came on for Tavares late on. The victory lifts Rotherham to 17th in League Two with one point from two games, having scored two goals and conceded three. You can track their progress on our standings page.
What was the significance of the result?
This was the first league meeting between these sides since 2013, and Chesterfield had not won at Rotherham for 19 years. The win provides a massive boost for Bruce's project, marking his first league victory since taking charge. It also ended a run of one draw and one loss from their opening two fixtures. The three points are vital as Rotherham now sit five points behind early leaders Barnet.
Mullin's first goal for the club is a key moment for the forward, while Tavares showed his quality with a lively display. The team showed resilience to recover from the disappointment of conceding a late penalty. Referee Sebastian Stockbridge from Tyne and Wear oversaw a competitive contest that included a fair but crunching tackle from Spence on George McEachran.
What comes next for Rotherham?
The focus now shifts quickly to the next challenge. Rotherham travel to face Tranmere Rovers on September 1st. Tranmere currently sit 4th in the table, making it a tough away fixture. Bruce will hope the confidence from this last-gasp win carries into that match. The manager must also assess his squad, with Adegboyega's injury adding to concerns. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
This result provides a foundation to build upon. With the first win secured, the aim will be to put together a consistent run of form. The team showed they can fight until the final whistle, a trait that will serve them well across a long season. The next few games, starting with the trip to Prenton Park, will test whether this dramatic victory is a turning point.
