ROTHERHAM UNITED 0

BARNSLEY 1 (Devaney 74)

A GOAL by super sub Martin Devaney gave the Reds a all three points and early season bragging rights over local rivals Rotherham United.

Reds boss Andy Ritchie named an unchanged side from the weekend after going so close to picking up three much-needed points against Southend United. Ritchie had missed out on signed a new defender in time for the Millmoor clash but transfer activity is still expected at Oakwell before the weekend.

With no Barry Conlon available, the Millers made two changes to the side that drew with Swansea with Martin Butler and John Mullin coming into the team at the expense of the Reds star and Paul Hurst.

At a rain lashed and sodden Millmoor, the Reds started brightly with quick passing causing Rotherham all sorts of problems and Paul Hayes almost played in Chris Shuker on five minutes but for Colin Murdock's bright intervention. A minute later Marc Richards let fly from 25 yards but his effort was never going to trouble Gary Montgomery in the Millers goal.

The best Rotherham could offer in the opening stages was a free kick from Grant Leadbitter on ten minutes that was comfortably caught by Nick Colgan on ten minutes. Two minutes later Butler managed to get away from the Reds defence but flashed his cross in front of the onrushing Millers' attack.

Barnsley went straight down the other end with Hayes turning Murdock again and firing towards the bottom corner but Montgomery pulled off a great save low to his right. Rotherham broke well on 16 minutes with Butler racing onto Bobby Hassell's weak back header but Colgan was quickly off his line to smother the danger.

Andy Monkhouse was then lucky to escape with only a caution on 26 minutes after pushing Hassell in the face after the pair had tussled in the far corner.

Seconds later Jacob Burns was booked after an innocuous looking challenge involving the Aussie, McPhail and Leadbitter. It was Burns' fifth caution of the season and means he would miss next weekend's FA Cup First Round clash with Darlington.

Rotherham had a decent shout for a penalty on 32 minutes as the ball appeared to strike Hassell's arm in the area but the referee had a good look and gave nothing. Seconds later Mullin crashed a shot in from the edge of the area which struck Hassell and bounced to safety. Mullin then tried his luck from 30 yards on 39 minutes but curled his effort well over the top.

Tonge, Shuker and Richards combined wonderfully well on 40 minutes to send Hayes clean on goal but the striker never really looked like ending his eight game goal drought and fired woefully wide of the target.

The home side took advantage of the wind at their backs to start the second half brightly with Monkhouse twice going close from the edge of the area inside four minutes. At the other end control by Burns then opened up the Rotherham defence on 55 minutes but this time Shuker hammered a low shot wide of the target.

Again the Millers pressed with Murdock heading a Leadbitter corner high over the top on 63 minutes. Seconds later a poor back pass by Kay sent Butler in on Colgan but again the Reds keeper was quickly off his line to smother. Colgan had to be at his best again on 64 minutes when Burton managed to get in but again reacted quickly to the danger.

Rotherham were prepared to shoot from just about anywhere with Monkhouse shooting high and wide on 73 minutes after the ball broke 30 yards from goal.

Barnsley grabbed the lead on 74 minutes as a hopeful ball from the left looked to be heading into the arms of Montgomery who somehow managed to drop the ball at the feet of substitute Martin Devaney who fired home from 18 yards.

The home side should have levelled just two minutes later as a David Worrell free kick caused problems but Butler could only head wide from six yards.

At Rotherham pressed they were always liable to be caught on the break and Hayes almost did just that on 77 minutes as he raced fully 30 yards before firing well wide.

Colgan again had to be alert again on 81 minutes to grab Will Hoskin's back post header after the young striker had out jumped Austin to get to Gregor Robertson's cross.

Michael Keane ought to hang his head in shame after he theatrically threw himself to the floor on 85 minutes after an altercation with McPhail. The Reds midfielder reacted after Keane had hammered the ball at him after a free kick had gone against the Millers but Keane dropped to the floor as if he had been shot.

Rotherham threw everything at the Reds in stoppage time but the Barnsley defence stood firm to withstand a battering and keep a valuable clean sheet.

ROTHERHAM UNITED: Montgomery, Worrell, Barker, Murdock, Robertson, Mullin, Leadbitter (Hoskins 76), Keane (Newsham 85), Monkhouse, Butler, Burton.

Subs: Cutler, Hurst, Gilchrist.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Burns, Hayes (Jarman 83), McPhail, Howard, Austin, Kay, Shuker (Devaney 64), Tonge, Richards (Nardiello 67).

Subs: Flinders, Williams.