Jili Buyabu was sent off after six minutes to make life easier for Swindon, with Jack Thomson’s deflected drive giving them the lead.

Dominic Iorfa then saw red for a last-man challenge, giving Joseph Hungbo a free kick that he duly dispatched, before Denzel Hall pulled one back.

So, how did the players fare as individuals at the Nigel Eady County Ground?

GK: Connor Ripley – 3

His error serves more as a reminder of his humanity than anything else, given Ripley’s form this season. It was a monumental error from a player who has been playing at such a high level, and he is lucky that it did not cost Swindon.

RCB: James Ball – 4

There were moments when Ball remembered his past as a midfielder and got forward, but not frequently enough. He was not the only culprit of this, but it was clear when it did happen how important it was, and then it was not built on.

CB: Stephan Negru – 5

Given that Paul Mullin is one of the hottest marksmen at the level, Negru did well to leave him without a sniff. He got tight to him and made absolutely no certain that no goal came to give The Millers hope.

James Ball looking to dictate play from deep (Image: Andy Crook)

LCB: Billy Kirkman – 5

Kirkman was more willing to get forward and partner with Dan Butler than Ball was on the other side. He was still more cautious than he needed to be, but that is what helped Butler create three chances and put in six crosses.

RWB: Mitch Clark – 6

In the second half, Clark demonstrated how the outside centre-backs needed to be playing, as he needed no second invitation to gallop down the right. He remains a little bit hesitant in the final third, but he kept coming.

CM: Tom Nichols – 5

The moments when Nichols and Matty Virtue combined were impressive and demonstrated some chemistry. With that said, he did not really have the dynamism in the final third to unlock Rotherham.

CM: Jack Thomson – 7

With Negru concentrating on Mullin, Thomson expertly patrolled the space in front of them to cut out balls into that area. He then had a go, and that is what you need to do when defences sit deep, and he got the luck for it to deflect in.

Tom Nichols punches the ball forward (Image: Andy Crook)

LWB: Dan Butler – 6

There is still work to do on the quality of his crosses, albeit part of that is getting more bodies into the box, but he is a volume man and that works for me. If you cross enough, something will come off, and he cannot be discouraged.

RAM: Matty Virtue – 6

The way that Virtue moves is excellent, as nobody seems to be able to keep track of him. He almost apparates into pockets in the right half-space. The conviction then needs to come, as he seemed to second-guess himself when he had a great chance.

LAM: Joe Snowdon – 4

You can still see Snowdon coming up to speed, as he will make runs off the shoulder and try incisive passes, just not often enough. Swindon needed a playmaker here, and he never really grabbed the map and told everyone he would lead the way.

ST: Aaron Drinan – 4

He ended up getting sent off, but Iorfa did an excellent job of putting Drinan in manacles. He could not shake him, and with chances sparse enough as it was, that meant Town had to look elsewhere for their matchwinners.

Mitch Clark overlaps Matty Virtue (Image: Andy Crook)

Substitutes:

Joseph Hungbo – 6

It only happened once, but in the second half, he did a stepover, left his marker for dead, and flashed a cross in that nearly led to a goal. That is what he is capable of, and if that is confidence escaping him, then he can take heart in the flashes. And then there is that free kick. It was simply special.

Ollie Palmer – 6

There are fingers to point at him for the Rotherham goal, and it may well have come with overconfidence from how well he was playing. When Palmer first arrived, his magnetic chest had me spellbound, and he seems to have dusted that off and put it back into use, as he is such a useful pivot in the attack.

James Debayo – N/A

Joel McGregor – N/A