KARL Robinson held his hand up and took the blame for Simon Eastwood’s part in Rotherham United’s equaliser.

The goalkeeper came off his line and attempted to punch Matt Crooks’s looping header into the six-yard box.

But, as had happened against Accrington Stanley a fortnight earlier, Eastwood lost out in the air and Michael Ihiekwe nodded the ball into the open net.

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It was an error, but Robinson said sorry to United’s No 1 at half-time for pre-match instructions against the Millers which he felt had caused it.

The head coach said: “It was my fault with Easty, because I asked him to come and punch everything.

“I apologised to him at half-time for asking him to do that.”

United were ultimately indebted to the 30-year-old, who made a terrific reflex save in stoppage time to keep out what would have been a Chris Cadden own goal.

Robinson said: “What a save that was low down to his right. He’s an unbelievable goalkeeper and we’re lucky to have him.”

The U’s boss dedicated the victory to Andy James, known as Womble, who died last weekend.

There was applause in the 66th minute for the well-known U’s fan, with Rotherham’s supporters also taking part.

The committed performance was a fitting tribute, with the visitors showing an appetite for the physical side of the game on top of the quality they have been consistently delivering.

And Robinson felt it was the most complete performance his side had delivered this campaign.

He said: “When all aspects of the game were called upon, whether that’s our talent, our speed and power, they were there.

“When we needed guts and to dig in, that was also there.

IN PICTURES: Rotherham 1, United 2

“I think this is the first game which has challenged all aspects of our game.”

He added: “We had a different type of game plan at times.

“We went a bit longer a bit earlier and we knew in the first 15 minutes they would stifle our style.

“But we’ve got some fantastic footballers and some fantastic men who have shown me a different side to them.”