Saturday's game at Bolton was described by some fans as arguably our most important game since that wonderful day at Wembley some 18 months ago. A game we simply had to win or at the very least avoid losing. Having travelled to several games to watch the Millers this season and witnessed some pretty woeful performances, Leeds in Cup, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough to name but three, it was with some trepidation that I made the journey over the Pennines to the Reebok or Macron or whatever their stadium is currently called.

After such a limp, pathetic display against one of the very few other teams to sit below us in the league the week before and despite some pessimism amongst our fans, surely we could muster enough to dispose of a team struggling with huge debts, a threat of administration and a transfer embargo?

My day didn't begin well. Driving rain and high winds made for a difficult journey along the M62 into Deepest Darkest Lancashire. Never mind though, I'd been here before, last season on a mild Tuesday evening when we'd somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! It's an easy stadium to get to situated just off the M61, in Horwich, some miles from Bolton!

Despite that much criticised performance of a week ago, a sizeable following of over 1300 Millers made the trip, some more confident than others that the players would be determined to turn things around and get that so vital win.

I wasn't too surprised that NR was to play one up front despite fans protestations to the contrary. I was surprised by the inclusion of Wood and Richardson, but experience might prove a key factor.

My day worsened quickly as in their first attack, they forced a corner and before we'd had time to settle into our seats, we were a goal down! Our travelling support was not happy!

After that, both teams appeared to struggle on the sodden playing surface, passes went astray and neither side offered much in the way of any quality. As per previous away trips, we had a lion's share of the possession, huffed a bit, puffed a bit but rarely threatened to blow their house down. Danny Ward looked a lonely figure up front as our midfield tried desperately to support him. Burke was proving an exception with his close control and ability to beat his man.

As for the home side, they looked almost surprised to be in front so early and didn't seem to know whether to stick or twist and in the end did neither! The home side did have a goal disallowed though, clearly offside and Newell should have scored for us , one on one with their keeper.

Burke finally equalised, finishing our best move of the half, relief amongst the travelling fans, dismay amongst the home support. All square at half time, Bolton players and fans alike were shell shocked.

I have to say that at this point I was confident that we'd go on and win comfortably, so woeful was our opposition. Neil Redfern would turn the screw bring on a second striker and they wouldn't be able to cope?

Early doors second half, we were on top, they looked spent, there for the taking! Their fans quiet, anticipating defeat? Shinnie ought to have made a name for himself when he was left with a simple opportunity to score but decided to tamely pass the ball into the grateful home keeper's arms. Both new signings Burke, hobbling around and tiring badly, and Shinnie looked exhausted! Time for substitutions we thought. Options were limited due to our manager having selected two centre backs and two strikers along with Paul Green on the bench. No attacking midfield option such as Ledesma?

Never mind, on came Green for Burke, no option perhaps? We waited in vain for the completely spent Shinnie to be taken off as Danny Ward limped off injured again, replaced by Clarke Harris. Last fifteen minutes it was obvious we were playing with a virtual man short such was Shinnie's contribution. If Matt Derbyshire was introduced now, we could still come away with all three points, Bolton looked incapable of mounting any further challenge, they were woeful!

As the minutes ticked by, and with no sign of any further substitutions, surely NR hadn't settled for a draw? Then, disaster struck as Camp could only parry a shot away right into the path of substitute Woolery to fire into an empty net! We'd snatched defeat from the jaws of victory just like last season here, but this result might prove much more significant for both clubs. Possibly in a token to appease the angry fans, our intrepid manager finally brought off Shinnie and replaced him with Derbyshire, a full minute before the referee blew his whistle!

Final familiar scenes then as we trooped off into the darkened, wet evening, whilst the home support celebrated an unlikely win.

Not our poorest performance then, not by a long way, we'd played well in patches but ultimately were undone by a lack of quality in key positions and what in my opinion was a tactically inept Neil Redfearn. Why did he wait so long to replace Shinnie, who was clearly unable to complete ninety minutes? Why, when the home side were clearly struggling just after the break did we fail to bring on that extra striker that I believe would have won us the match?

A deeply disappointing and demoralising day to add to the many we've endured then. As I've said, not the worst display and perhaps, we deserved a point, but our negative tactics in those final minutes, clearly playing for a point, cost us and we got our comeuppance! The spine of our team is so fragile and we lack that cutting edge, a recipe for relegation!

In his post match interview, did NR really think we played well and should have won easily? Does he really believe we are much improved? More importantly, does he really think we can avoid relegation?

Finally, how on earth did Becchio join the injured list? Rotherham Hospital will surely be naming one of their wards the Millers Ward if it continues.

Thank goodness there's the "kids for a quid" next weekend and a sell out of the away allocation otherwise I would fear for the attendance. Games are running out, NR's statement that we have 16 Cup Finals I do agree with. After the last seven days though I cannot see where the next win is coming from. Lets' hope I am proved wrong!