BLACKBURN Rovers rescued a point with a late goal to salvage a draw at rock-bottom Rotherham United.

A Connor Mahoney corner was turned in to his own net by Millers defender Stephen Kelly, just as Rovers looked to be staring defeat in the face.

A deflected Jon Taylor handed the Millers the lead early in the second half in a game that was really a must-win for Rovers in their battle against the drop.

Rovers missed a hatful of chances in the first-half, as well as hitting the bar in either half, but were made to pay for a poor start to the second period, with Taylor’s goal coming just two minutes after the re-start.

They were to be denied by Richard O’Donnell, who excelled in the Millers goal with a string of impressive saves, before the equaliser with four minutes to play.

They pressed hard for a winner late on, but saw their efforts come to nothing.

Owen Coyle made just one change, with Derrick Williams returning at left-back, with the injured Gordon Greer missing out.  Jason Lowe reverted to central defence, while Charlie Mulgrew moved back to centre half alongside Darragh Lenihan.

The game got off to something of a slow start, with the first shot not coming until the 12th minute.  It came from the boot of Rotherham full-back Stephen Kelly, who advanced forward before attempting a 25-yarder, but it was always drifting wide of Jason Steele’s post.

That certainly wasn’t the case with Danny Graham’s effort moments later which saw Rovers almost take the lead.  He picked up a Sam Gallagher knock-down to shoot goalwards from the edge of the box, with his left-foot half volley flashing inches wide.

Jason Lowe would fire over in the 14th minute as Rovers began to come in to the game more as an attacking force.

The front two linked up well again inside the opening 15 minutes, with Graham turning provider for Gallagher, but his left foot effort was blocked by Semi Ajayi.

Charlie Mulgrew headed over an inswinging Craig Conway corner as Rovers continued to press and they would go within inches of scoring in the 22nd minute.
Jason Lowe attempted a curling effort which was touched on to the underside of the bar by the fingertips of Richard O’Donnell as Rotherham scrambled clear.

The front two of Gallagher and Graham were causing all sorts of problems for the Millers, but as the half hour mark passed, the game became a little scrappy,  with cheap free-kicks stopping the momentum Rovers had previously built up.

And it was Rotherham to threaten next eight minutes before the break.  They worked an overlap down the left which allowed Joe Newell to pick out the advancing Tom Adeyemi, but he couldn’t get any real purchase on his finish which made it easy for Steele.

Danny Graham tested O’Donnell from 25 yards a minute later, but the best chance of the half came the way of Sam Gallagher three minutes before the break.  The ball fell to him six yards out from a Feeney corner, but he blazed over on his left foot.

Graham would head over a Conway free-kick just before the break, with those chances sandwiched by Adeyemi testing Steele with a low drive from 25 yards.

But Rovers were to go in level, despite their dominance, and likely reflecting on those missed chances.

Within two minutes of the second half, Rovers were to fall behind.  They failed to deal with a left-wing corner which made its way to Taylor at the far post, with his strike deflected in past Steele.

Stunned by falling behind, Rovers tried to muster a response, and almost levelled within a minute, only to be denied by the bar for a second time.  Graham got his head to a Conway corner but saw his header brilliantly tipped on to the bar O’Donnell.

But Rotherham had emerged a different side after the break and were looking the more likely to score a second.  Adeyemi and Joe Newell both saw efforts deflected behind, while Danny Ward fired a rasping 25-yard drive just over the top.

A really poor start to the second half showed no signs of halting as Rotherham pressed again, Joe Newell forcing a fingertip save out of Jason Steele in the 64th minute.

And Steele could only watch as Danny Ward’s deflected strike went inches wide of the post as it began to feel like 2-0 was a matter of time.

Rovers’ made a double change, and tried to rally, though Gallagher was to waste another good chance as he snatched at a chance from the edge of the box, before Bennett saw a low effort smartly saved by O’Donnell.

O’Donnell was becoming hero of the hour for the Millers, saving again from Emnes as the game really started to open up.  The Dutchman got a shot away from a tight angle, but it was beaten away by the keeper and cleared by Ajayi.

Their pressure told with four minutes to go as an inswinging Mahoney corner was turned in at the far post, seemingly by a Rotherham defender.

And the winger almost came up with another assist, only for Emnes to nod his cross inches wide of the post as they had to settle for a point.