Rotherham produced a fine home display on Tuesday evening as they knocked near neighbours Sheffield Wednesday out of the Capital One Cup. The League One side were on top for a good proportion of the first round clash as Wednesday's debut at the New York Stadium ended in a 2-1 defeat.
The Championship team failed to impose their pedigree on their hosts and in truth looked somewhat disjointed at times while Rotherham seemed to execute their game plan well.
The Millers took the lead early on in the game when a long throw was delivered across the Owls penalty area. A couple of good opportunities to clear were missed and the ball travelled through the width of the area where Ben Pringle was unmarked and he fired and excellent half volley back across the helpless Kirkland.
Wednesday were stirred into a response and a forward run from Prutton brought about a free-kick 30 yards out midway through the half. Rhys McCabe's low, well-placed dead ball eluded Shearer in the Rotherham goal to draw the visitors level.
Clear cut chances were at a premium but with half-time approaching the visitors regained the lead as the Owls once again failed to deal with a dead ball into the box. Having failed to clear their lines adequately Wednesday could not get close enough to Lee Frecklington who controlled and fired in from the edge of the penalty area with Kirkland again given no chance.
Kirkland was on hand to make a smart save from a close range header as the half came to an end with the Owls fans perhaps thankful that their team was only one down at that stage.
Gary Madine and Jermaine Johnson were introduced early on in the second half for the ineffective Nuhiu and Maghoma. McCabe fired a free-kick over the bar on the hour after the hour mark and Madine mis-hit a daisy cutter tamely wide.
Johnson's direct running had given the Owls some impetus but with 15 minutes to go he undid his good work with a moment of madness. Having been crowded out after making a positive run forward Johnson took his frustration out on Pringle by head butting the Rotherham goal scorer. The incident appeared to have been missed by the referee and his assistants but at the next break in play the fourth official had a discussion with the referee who duly produced the red card for the Jamaican.
Rotherham couldn't capitalise on their numerical advantage in the closing stages and Wednesday had chances to find an unlikely equaliser. Madine fired over when well placed on the edge of the box and the Owls failed to make the most of a free-kick in a promising position when Antonio was brought down. Wednesday opted to take a short free-kick and although they worked the space for a cross well the centre was over hit and the chance went begging.
The defeat leaves the Owls with 2 losses from 2 games ahead of their first home game of the season against Burnley on Saturday.