Match ends, Leeds United 0, Rotherham United 1.
LeedsLeeds United0RotherhamRotherham United1
Rotherham boss Neil Redfearn won on his return to former club Leeds as his struggling side took three precious points from a game both teams finished with 10 men.
Joe Newell gave the visitors the lead when he headed home in the 54th minute.
Home defender Gaetano Berardi and Millers debutant Leon Best were then sent off after a fracas.
Leeds pushed hard for an equaliser but Rotherham held out for their first win under Redfearn.
The Millers made nine changes to the team that had lost 5-2 to Ipswich last time out as Redfearn, who was sacked by Leeds in the summer, gave debuts to striker Best and full-back Stephen Kelly.
It seemed to have had the desired effect as the visitors started well, but they were indebted to keeper Lee Camp as he got across his goal well to deny Alex Mowatt the opener.
Leeds, managed by former Millers boss Steve Evans, nearly took the lead immediately after the break when Mirco Antenucci thumped a shot just off target.
Rotherham went in front when an unmarked Newell headed home from Richie Smallwood's cross.
Antenucci had a great chance to level for the hosts from 10 yards but he dragged his effort wide before Lee Frecklington came close to doubling the away side's lead when his header went just over.
The game took a dramatic turn when referee Keith Stroud showed red cards to Best and Berardi after an altercation near the halfway line in the 72nd minute.
Leeds threw everything at the Millers in the final minutes but Chris Wood directed his header straight at Camp and Jordan Botaka shot wastefully wide as Rotherham moved off the bottom of the table.
Leeds United boss Steve Evans:
"I don't think we lacked application or effort, it looked like we lacked quality around the box. We are not going to hide behind a performance that was down from the last two games.
"It hurts, you take it twice as hard. I always take defeats hard so to take defeat against a team I have great pride in leaving does hurt more.
"Neil has got his first win, we will congratulate them, I hope they win some games but I feel we contributed to their success today. I am very low, I will be low for a couple of days."
Rotherham United manager Neil Redfearn:
"This is sweet, it has been tough. Leeds fans will probably be as happy as Rotherham fans tonight.
"It was a real battling performance and I thought we wanted it more than Leeds today.
"When it mattered we wanted it more than them and that was apparent."
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Silvestri
- 4Wootton
- 5BellusciBooked at 84mins
- 6Cooper
- 28BerardiBooked at 74mins
- 15DallasSubstituted forBotakaat 67'minutes
- 23L CookSubstituted forErwinat 85'minutes
- 8MurphyBooked at 63minsSubstituted forAdeyemiat 67'minutes
- 10Mowatt
- 9Wood
- 7AntenucciBooked at 31mins
Substitutes
- 2Byram
- 11Doukara
- 19Erwin
- 20Botaka
- 24Adeyemi
- 25Buckley
- 30Horton
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Camp
- 2Buxton
- 12Kelly
- 5BroadfootBooked at 56mins
- 3MattockBooked at 22minsSubstituted forToffoloat 45'minutes
- 17Ward
- 8Frecklington
- 33Smallwood
- 22NewellBooked at 79minsSubstituted forCollinsat 90'minutes
- 50BestBooked at 73mins
- 19Clarke-HarrisSubstituted forWardat 80'minutesBooked at 84mins
Substitutes
- 4Collins
- 9Ward
- 21Collin
- 24Andreu
- 26Barker
- 27Derbyshire
- 30Toffolo
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 25,802
Match Stats
Home TeamLeedsAway TeamRotherham
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away21
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 0, Rotherham United 1.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Marco Silvestri.
Post update
Attempt saved. Grant Ward (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Danny Ward.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lee Erwin (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Botaka.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jordan Botaka (Leeds United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Mowatt.
Post update
Lee Erwin (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Grant Ward (Rotherham United).
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris Wood (Leeds United) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mirco Antenucci.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Danny Collins replaces Joe Newell.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan Botaka (Leeds United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Adeyemi.
Post update
Foul by Liam Cooper (Leeds United).
Post update
Lee Frecklington (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Lee Erwin replaces Lewis Cook.
Booking
Giuseppe Bellusci (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Danny Ward (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Danny Ward replaces Jonson Clarke-Harris.
Post update
Attempt missed. Giuseppe Bellusci (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
Booking
Joe Newell (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Alex Mowatt (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
