LEAM Richardson suffered defeat at Rotherham United tonight in his final game as Accrington Stanley caretaker boss.

With Paul Cook at the Don Valley Stadium to watch Stanley after being confirmed as the club’s new manager yesterday, the Reds fell behind in the 28th minute as Bryan Hughes felled Mark Bradley and Shaun Harrad converted the penalty.

Danny Coid fired over at the start of the second half from a smart Stanley corner routine, but Ian Dunbavin had to make a decent save to prevent Harrad’s header from making it 2-0 and the Reds were unable to create enough to fashion an equaliser.

Stanley: Ian Dunbavin; Danny Coid (Charlie Barnett 66), Toto Nsiala, Dean Winnard, Kevin McIntyre; Peter Murphy, Luke Joyce, Bryan Hughes; Micah Evans, Michael Smith, Padraig Amond (Craig Lindfield 78). Subs not used: Sean Murdoch, Tom Bender, Kurtis Guthrie.

Rotherham: Rhys Taylor; Mark Bradley, Richard Naylor, Johnny Mullins, Scott Griffiths; Kieran Cadogan (Lewis Grabban 83), Danny Harrison, Jason Taylor, Sam Wood; Shaun Harrad, Alex Revell. Subs not used: Andy Warrington, Dale Tonge, Ryan Cresswell, Danny Schofield.

Attendance: 2,572.