Ace Stevie’s strike saves Simon from Small scare
ROTHERHAM have gone an entire season without winning away from home after a draw at Preston.
The Millers, whose relegation was confirmed at the start of the month, failed to record a victory on the road for just the second time in their history and lost 21 times away from home.
They were given a chance to break their duck through Richie Smallwood’s early goal.
But Stevie May’s brilliant effort from 20 yards spared Preston’s blushes.
Lilywhites boss Simon Grayson said: “We wanted to get that feel-good vibe back and put the last few results behind us, so it wasn’t the best way to finish the home season.
“But we can still be very proud of what we have done.”
Rotherham’s hopes of avoiding that unwanted record were raised as they took a ninth-minute lead.
A corner was cleared to Smallwood on the edge of the box, his first touch was good to get the ball under control but his next was even better as he sent a looping volley into the far corner.
The Millers had chances to further their lead but Tom Adeyemi curled an effort inches wide from 16 yards and then Richard Wood headed straight at Chris Maxwell.
And Preston eventually drew level four minutes before the break with a special moment for May.
Making his first start since October 2015 following a terrible knee injury, the striker bent the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.
But they were still lucky to go in at half-time on level terms.
A neat move ended with Jonson Clarke-Harris heading down for Adeyemi but the midfielder blazed embarrassingly over before firing at Maxwell seconds after the restart.
North End pushed for the win in the final 10 minutes with Simon Makienok having a header cleared off the line.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne said: “I am pretty proud of what the lads have put in.
“I think there are green shoots for next season so I am a proud manager.”