Cobblers suffer more pain on the road as Rotherham hit back to secure victory

Town appeared to have the game under control when leading 1-0 at an increasingly restless and frustrated New York Stadium early in the second half, but two set-piece goals in the final half-hour made for a damaging defeat.

Tom Eaves’ well-taken first half strike, his sixth of the season in all competitions, edged Cobblers ahead in a tight and tense contest in South Yorkshire, and they were the team in the ascendency at the start of the second period.

However, Harry Gray was left unmarked to nod in a simple equaliser from a corner and then Emmanuel Adegboyega repeated the trick, turning home a free-kick, with six minutes remaining as Rotherham moved to within a point of the Cobblers.

New loan signing Jake Evans was named on the bench as Kevin Nolan made four changes from the weekend, with Jordan Willis, Jack Burroughs, Sam Hoskins and Eaves all recalled to the starting line-up.

With Jack Perkins, Jack Vale and Kamarai Swyer dropped to the bench, and Joe Wormleighton not even in the squad, it was clear that Nolan had gone for experience on what was a big night for his side, and they needed to stand firm in the face of early Rotherham pressure.

Jon Guthrie was quickly across to get an important foot in after Millers dangerman Sam Nombe found space in the penalty box, before Conor McCarthy was well-placed to block from Zak Jules.

Town rode out the storm and their first sight of goal fell to Eaves on 10 minutes, his header easy for Cameron Dawson, before McCarthy attacked Terry Taylor’s excellent free-kick but nodded wide of the target.

In a to-and-fro first half, Willis almost diverted the ball into his own net and then ex-Cobbler Joe Powell whizzed a shot just over the crossbar, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 26 minutes.

A partially cleared free-kick fell to Sam Hoskins on the edge of the box and his cross was flicked on by Guthrie for Eaves, who took a terrific first touch and finished well past Cameron Dawson.

The striker did not celebrate against his former club but the goal further aggravated an already disgruntled home crowd, and it could have got even worse late in the first half when Eaves out-muscled his marker and got a toe on Nesta Guinness-Walker’s cross, poking just over.

Cobblers started the second half well as Dean Campbell drilled wide from the edge of the box, and they then had a strong penalty shout waved away when Burroughs’ lofted pass hit an outstretched arm in the penalty box.

The visitors seemed fairly comfortable but their failure to capitalise on Rotherham nerves was punished when the home side levelled in very simple fashion just shy of the hour, a short corner whipped into the near post for an unmarked Gray to head home.

That changed the atmosphere around the ground and United were now the team in the ascendency as low cross just evaded Nombe before Ross Fitzsimons kept out Joe Rafferty’s header.

Evans came on for his debut as part of a triple change with 10 minutes to go, Michael Jacobs and Vale also introduced, but Cobblers had become ragged and loose, and Jacobs’ first contribution was to concede a free-kick that would prove decisive.

His foul on the left allowed Powell to whip in a wicked ball that was met by debutant Adegboyega, again unmarked, and he headed in to leave Town with just five minutes to avoid another damaging defeat.

There was never any sign of a dramatic equaliser though and Cobblers rather tamely slumped to defeat, their fifth in the last seven League One games.

Match facts

Rotherham: Dawson, Rafferty, Jules, James (Gore 45), Powell, McWilliams (Yearwood 85), Spence (Adegboyega 73), Kaleta (Martha 39), Baptiste, Gray, Nombe. Subs not used: Cann, Agbaire, Holmes

Cobblers: Fitzsimons, Willis (Dyche 71), Guthrie ©, McCarthy, Burroughs (Swyer 71), Guinness-Walker, Campbell, Taylor, Hoskins (Jacobs 81), List (Vale 81), Eaves (Evans 81). Subs not used: Burge, Perkins

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 7,228

Cobblers fans: 293