Rochdale produced a fine attacking performance to stop Rotherham United's winning run although perhaps the fourth goal deep into stoppage time gave the scoreline a slightly more emphatic look than the game merited.

The visitors made a sensational start to the game when they were two goals up inside the first seven minutes. The first came on four minutes when a fine cross from Higginbotham wide on the right found its way through to Jones who drilled the ball home.

A Millers free kick then earned a corner but on seven minutes they were two behind when Kennedy crossed from the left and Le Fondre found space to score.

However, the home team were not left floundering for too long and they almost reduced the arrears on 11 minutes when a Pablo Mills header was turned out for a corner.

Then with just 13 minutes on the clock United pulled a goal back when deeply driven corner saw Mills head towards the goal. The ball would have gone over the line but Ian Sharps made sure with a close range header.

It was all square just two minutes later with a fine break from Brogan setting up a chance that Derek Holmes gratefully accepted as he smashed the ball into the net.

The game then steeled down somewhat after that blistering start and it was Rochdale who created the next few chances.

It needed a vital tackle from Coughlan to stop a promising attack while Andy Warrington had to punch out a good cross from Higginbotham before he saved a shot from Jones. At the other end Chris O'Grady and Derek Holmes both had shots blocked while on 43 minutes the Millers almost grabbed the lead.

Brogan curled in a free kick from wide on the right and it was met by Coughlan but his goal bound header was cleared off the line.

In stoppage time a great break saw Peter Holmes with a chance but he shot wide and the second half was just two minutes old when Rochdale took the lead again. It came from a Higginbotham superbly flighted corner and Murray rose to head the ball home.

Six minutes later a Murray shot was saved by Warrington before the Millers wasted a promising chance with s fine pass from Derek Holmes sending Brogan away but he screwed his shot wide from a good position.

From a Hudson free kick Sharps went close with a header and Hudson then had a shot saved while at the other end Jones hit a 20 yarder just too high.

The visitors always looked dangerous on the break and they forced two corners without success. In the last minute of normal time United had another chance to pull level but O'Grady fired over the bar and then two home corners brought no more reward.

With the clock ticking just past the four minutes added time Rochdale grabbed a fourth goal when they broke away again for McEvilly to apply the finishing touch from close range.

Rotherham: Warrington, Joseph (Tonge 69), Sharps, Coughlan, Brogan, Harrison, Mills (Todd 69), Hudson, P. Holmes, O'Grady, D. Holmes (Hudson 63). Subs: Annerson, Hurst.

Rochdale: Russell, Ramsden, Kennedy, McArdle, Stanton (Holness 46), Higginbotham, Jones, Doolan (Crooks 13), Rundle, Murray, Le Fondre (McEvilly 85). Subs: Rigby, Prendergast.

Referee: Ian Williamson (Berkshire).