All right, it wasn't three points - which it could and would have been if Kyle Nix had not contrived to somehow miss from three yards - but they had at least made a point following their manager's rollicking after last week's miserable effort against Mansfield Town.

For one game, at least, the players were back in Stuart McCall's good books. Let's hope that it is still the case come 5.00pm on Monday.

On the afternoon nominated by the fans to celebrate David Wetherall's contribution to the cause, City rolled up their sleeves and battled in the manner we have come to expect from the skipper.

None more so than for the final 20 minutes, when they were down to ten men after Omar Daley was given his marching orders.

It was hard to see what exactly took place between the Jamaican and Rotherham centre half Graham Coughlan. Even McCall, just a few yards from the incident in the away dugout, did his best Arsene Wenger impression and said he was oblivious.

Coughlan cleared a ball as Daley went into the challenge and ended up on the floor. There was a brief melee as players from both sides converged on the scene, before referee Mike Thorpe pulled out a red card.

After a string of sub-par displays, Daley had looked up for it in a strike role alongside Barry Conlon, with his pace causing the Millers backline a real problem. That made his early exit even more frustrating.

But at least this time there was no late Rotherham winner to leave City empty-handed. That would have been harsh on a side showing four changes from Mansfield.

In an ideal world, McCall would have been tempted to replace the lot of them but, with one eye on today's Chesterfield clash, he shuffled it about to give a chance to the likes of Tom Penford and long-term absentee Mark Bower.

They both rewarded him with real commitment; Penford, in particular, catching the eye with his roving runs from box to box in centre midfield.

It is games like this which remind you what a talent he can be. It's just a pity that we have been given such fleeting glimpses down the years.

Penford's partnership with Eddie Johnson certainly enjoyed the upper hand on their Rotherham counterparts - and the 23-year-old was at the heart of City's goal.

Joe Colbeck, a lively and bright presence on the right flank, slipped the ball inside to Penford and then bombed towards the box. The flighted return pass was right on the button and Colbeck needed only one touch to steady himself before shooting across keeper Andy Warrington and in off the far post.

It was Colbeck's fourth City goal of the campaign and sixth overall. Now it is surely time that he breaks his duck at home.

What made it ten times worse for the Rotherham faithful was that their own right winger Jamie Yates had been in an identical situation in the first half but he mistakenly went for the near post and simply dragged his shot into the side-netting.

Team-mate Derek Holmes, unmarked six yards out, was particularly unimpressed as he stood there pleading for a pass.

That was one of two big chances in the opening 45 minutes; the other fell to Barry Conlon.

When Penford's blocked shot squirted to him by the penalty spot, Conlon should have been celebrating his third goal in as many games. Rotherham froze for offside, which gave the Irishman time to take aim, but Warrington made a decent block and the opportunity was gone.

Conlon led the line well and his hold-up play was good all afternoon but once again his finishing was called into question.

Having enjoyed the bulk of the first-half possession without creating too much else, you feared that City might live to regret it - but within two minutes of the restart, Colbeck was galloping inside left back Marc Joseph and the deadlock had been broken.

The game opened up as Scott Loach beat away Chris O'Grady's low effort, then Daley's quick feet worked space to test Warrington at the other end.

But City, again backed by a noisy away following, had their tails up and, while Rotherham rocked, they should have delivered a knock-out blow.

Nix found Daley and then set off for the six-yard box to take the low cross that the winger drilled in. Warrington was on the floor as the goal loomed large but Nix unbelievably slid the ball parallel with the goalline and straight into the keeper's grateful grasp.

It was a miss just as embarrassing as Peter Thorne's in the first encounter between the sides and the scorn poured down from the home fans behind that goal. It must have been even more painful for Nix, who grew up and still lives around the Rotherham area.

His punishment was doubled when Rotherham inevitably hit back with an equaliser two minutes later.

It was a poor goal to concede. Joseph's free-kick just over the halfway line caught the gusty wind and drifted on into the City box, where O'Grady slipped in behind Bower to stab home from close range.

It should have been the keeper's ball and Loach was quick to apologise to his frustrated defence.

Both sides were going for a winner and City could have been back in front from their next attack. Again it was Nix cutting into range but his shot with his unfavoured right foot carried over the bar.

Then Daley was sent off and City had to resort to plan B, ensuring they held on to what they had.

Bower was running on empty but kept getting his head on every high ball; Wetherall stood strong alongside him; the full backs timed their tackles well and made sure Rotherham did not get round the side.

Paul Heckingbottom produced a great smothering tackle as Coughlan prepared to pull the trigger and Joseph's delicate chip cleared the bar.

But it had been much better from City. Then again, it usually is away from home. Over to you at Valley Parade!

ROTHERHAM UNITED	BRADFORD CITY
1 Andy Warrington	34 Scott Loach
6 Graham Coughlan	2 Darren Williams
8 Peter Holmes	3 Paul Heckingbottom
2 Dale Tonge	5 David Wetherall
12 Marc Joseph	6 Mark Bower
9 Derek Holmes	7 Omar Daley
15 Chris O'Grady	8 Eddie Johnson
10 Mark Hudson	9 Barry Conlon
16 Jamie Yates	15 Joe Colbeck
4 Danny Harrison	18 Tom Penford
25 Pablo Mills	22 Kyle Nix
SUBSTITUTES	SUBSTITUTES
30 Steven Cann	4 Paul Evans
20 Ryan Taylor for 2 (83)	10 Peter Thorne for 9 (83)
17 Marc Newsham for 9 (61)	11 Alex Rhodes
29 Ian Ross	23 Willy Topp
24 Jamie Greene for 16 (67)	33 Ben Starosta for 2 (90)

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee:	M Thorpe
Assistant Referee:	C Evans
Assistant Referee:	B Parry
4th Official:	R Fletcher

GOALSCORERS:
ROTHERHAM UNITED	BRADFORD CITY
O'Grady (65)	Colbeck (48)
	.

DISCIPLINARY:
ROTHERHAM UNITED	BRADFORD CITY
Mills (71)	Daley (71)
	.