Adam Collin talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Custodian Adam Collin was quick to praise his side's performance in the face of a white-hot atmosphere against play-off rivals Preston North End on Saturday evening,
The semi-final tie is on a knife-edge going into the winner-takes-all second leg at New York Stadium on Thursday night after Joe Garner's wonderstrike cancelled out Alex Revell's well-taken first-half opener.
Speaking exclusively to www.themillers.co.uk following the enthralling draw at Deepdale, Collin believed his side were unfortunate not to take the upper hand going into the home leg after both Lee Frecklington and sub Haris Vuckic were denied by his PNE counterpart Declan Rudd in the latter stages of the game.
"We got stronger and stronger as the game went on and we had a few chances to get a second goal but we unfortunately couldn't put it away," Collin said.
"We came here wanting a positive result and we got one. We said before the clash we wanted to be in the tie at the end of the first game and we have to go again at our place.
"In my opinion, we created the most clear-cut chances in the game and it took a wonder-strike to get them back in the match."
Following a cautious opening by both sides, Rotherham took a stranglehold on the first-half proceedings when Revell got the better of Jack King on the left flank before embarking on a powerful run which ended with a composed finish by the Millers' target-man.
However, the Lancastrians turned the game on its head just minutes into the second half when a moment of individual brilliance from Garner saw him chest an awkward ball before a fantastic volley from distance which flew past the visitors' stopper.
Many Millers' followers may have feared a home onslaught which never materialised in-front of a raucous atmosphere but with the goals setting up a finely poised return leg, Collin was quick to acknowledge the quality of the strikes in front of the televised cameras.
"Revs chased a lost cause and he got on the end of it and finished it well," he enthused.
"I know Joe Garner well from my time at Carlisle and it was a great strike from him. It was a great bit of skill from him but we limited to them to very few opportunities in the game as a whole."
With the teams due to meet for the fourth time this season following three previous draws, Collin concedes there is little to choose between the teams although he is hopeful the Millers will make home advantage count in the decisive second leg.
"We know Preston very well and they are one of the best teams in the league," he added.
"We know all about them and it will be another tough game at the New York but it will be a packed house and we will be doing all we can to get a positive result to get to the final."