Rotherham United missed the chance to move back into the automatic promotion places after a 2-1 defeat at Accrington Stanley.

The Millers were behind in the first half to a Michael Symes strike but produced a stunning second half showing, equalising after a superb effort by Josh Walker. With the Millers in the ascendancy they let their guard down and Stanley took the points with a Jimmy Ryan strike against the run of play.

Rotherham produced a Jekyll and Hyde display with Stanley bossing the first 45 minutes. The Millers only real opening in the first 45 was the first chance of the game. Adam Le Fondre played a neat pass in behind the Stanley defence and Kevin Ellison hammered the ball towards goal but his shot was tipped over by Dean Bouzanis.

On nine minutes a cross from the right by Ryan caused the Millers problems with the ball cannoning off Danny Harrison and onto the crossbar. On 15 minutes Billy Kee went close for the home side when he volleyed over from Tom Lees' cross.

On 18 minutes Accrington took the lead. Ryan again looked dangerous down the right when his cross from the by line found Symes who guided the ball beyond Andy Warrington from close range.

Three minutes later John Miles also went close when his curling effort was brilliantly tipped wide by Warrington.

Four minutes before the break Kee stabbed an effort towards goal from 16 yards out, and again it was Warrington who kept Stanley at bay with a sprawling stop.

Half time

Accrington Stanley 1 v 0 Rotherham United

The Millers came out for the second half a completely different side and laid siege to the Accrington goal. On 50 minutes Marcus Marshall shot wide following a clever knockdown by Craig McAllister. Luke Joyce should have scored at the other end for Accrington when through on goal and he was made to pay when Walker drew the Millers level straight after.

The on loan midfielder picked the ball up inside his own half before meandering forward with a purposeful stride until he found the edge of the area when he unleashed an unstoppable left foot strike which arrowed into the top corner.

On 63 minutes Ian Sharps missed a glorious chance when his bullet header from an Ellison corner flashed just wide of the far post.

With 20 minutes remaining the Millers had the ball in the net but the linesman intervened to keep the scores level. A hopeful ball forward caused havoc when Darron Kempson and Phil Edwards got in a tangle, Edwards appeared to head the ball to Le Fondre who hit the post, with McAlliser on hand to net the rebound but he was controversially flagged offside.

Still the Millers pressed. This time it was Ellison who was denied from close range by a brilliant block by Bouzanis. Three minutes later Le Fondre was clean through but he skied his effort after a nasty bobble.

The Millers were left to rue their missed opportunities 10 minutes from time. Dean Winnard got the better of Marc Joseph before cutting the ball back to Ryan who swept the ball home from 16 yards out.

Full time

Accrington Stanley 2 v 1 Rotherham United

Accrington: Bouzanis; Lees, Kempson, Edwards, Winnard, Ryan, Procter, Joyce, Miles (Flynn 83), Symes, Kee.

Subs not used: Murphy, McCarten, Turner, McConville, Mullin, King.

Rotherham: Warrington; Joseph, Sharps, Fenton, Lynch, Marshall (Bell-Baggie 88), Harrison, Walker, Ellison (Pope 82), McAllister, Le Fondre.

Subs not used: Annerson, Taylor, Roberts, Tonge, Mills.

The Millers Match report is brought to you in association with The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust