Proctor back as Millers give up unbeaten record: Mansfield Town 2 Rotherham United 1
Paul Warne’s charges’ unbeaten pre-season run was ended at the final hurdle, with a trip to Brentford now on the horizon.
Warne used 22 players as he ran the rule over the majority of his squad on Saturday.
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Hide AdMarek Rodak returned to start in goal for the first time since rejoining the Millers on loan.
After a lengthy injury lay-off, striker Jamie Proctor came off the bench for the final 20 minutes.
After just eight minutes Anthony Forde hauled Malvind Benning down from behind to concede a penalty.
And Craig Davies waited for Slovakian stopper Rodak to commit before rolling the ball into the opposite corner to give the hosts the lead.
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Hide AdThe Millers levelled just three minutes later as Forde made up for his earlier error by crossing for Sean Raggett to powerfully head home.
Kyle Vassell almost scored a Millers’ second but headed Billy Jones’ cross over.
Down the other end, Benning couldn’t quite keep his volley down after being well found by Calum Butcher.
Forde used his trickery to open up some space for himself on the edge of the box before curling the ball wide.
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Hide AdThe Millers fell behind again four minutes before the break as Tyler Walker fired past a helpless Rodak.
Warne’s outfit squandered numerous chances after the interval.
Summer strike signing Vassell had a great chance to level from inside the box but his volley flew well over Conrad Logan’s bar.
Joe Newell missed the target, before Jones’ header forced Logan into a save.
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Hide AdRyan Williams worked his way into the box, with his strike taking a deflection off a defender for Logan to make an easy stop.
Proctor was almost the hero late on. The striker chipped the onrushing Logan only for the ball to go wide.
Millers: Rodak (Price, 62), Jones (Ihiekwe, 70), Raggett (Ajayi, 46), Robertson (Wood, 62), Purrington (Taylor, 62), Forde (Mattock, 62), Vaulks (Vyner, 46), Palmer (Williams, 62), Newell (Wiles, 62), Vassell (Proctor, 70), Smith (Ball, 62).