Matt Derbyshire made the most of his Football Association reprieve to put the Millers ahead only for Peter Odemwingie to level after the break.
Here's five things we learned from the game.
The Millers pass their latest test
Despite making a mockery of a horror run of fixtures, this was arguably the Millers' toughest test in recent weeks and it was one they passed with flying colours. Coming up against a Robins side, fired up by a partisan crowd, who were desperate for the points to ease their own relegation concerns, it could easily have been one game too far for Neil Warnock's men, after all this amazing run has to end at some point. But yet another spirited display saw them hang in there and take a well-earned point. That result, the manner of it and MK Dons' slip-up against Wolves made it about as good a night as the Millers could have hoped for.
Thou shall not pass
The foundations of the draw were laid by yet another outstanding defensive display. Say what you want about Warnock and his bravado (there's a bit about that below) but first and foremost he has put in place a superbly tight defensive unit that is increasingly tough to break down. With 10 men behind the ball, bodies were being thrown, tackles made and headers won, not to mention the relentless work rate to close the opposition down. Bristol City, with the likes of Odemwingie, Lee Tomlin and Jonathan Kodjia did not threaten on a regular basis and when they did Lee Camp produced the goods. Undoubtedly, this is a game Rotherham would have lost under both previous regimes this season.
Wily Warnock plays the game
You know when a manager comes to a press conference armed with a cut-out of the local newspaper that he isn't happy and it's fair to say Warnock was less than impressed with what Lee Johnson had to say before the game. Johnson, perhaps disparaging about the way the Millers play, made what Warnock deemed "inciting" comments about the Robins winning in any way possible and the veteran boss was not going to let it lie. He read out the offending excerpt of the article before going on a tirade against Johnson, labelling his comments a "disgrace" and that it was "like father like son" in reference to a previous spat with Johnson's father Gary. Absolute press conference gold from Warnock.
Partisan home crowd got it wrong
Johnson had asked for the home crowd to be intimidating in that article, but the Bristol City fans got the wrong end of the stick and made referee Gavin Ward the sole focus of their attention. It's fair to say, despite being a strong rugby area, they don't like it up 'em in Bristol as their fans took exception to the strong, but entirely fair, way the Millers were playing. Every little tussle saw an outcry as if one of their players had been attacked, with the home crowd demanding a free-kick. Yet when a decision went the other way it was the grossest injustice of all time. With three imposing new stands at Ashton Gate, their crowd could be a real weapon for the Robins next season - if they focus on the right things.
Things can change fast!
After their last midweek away trip, the Millers had just lost at Reading and were six points adrift of safety. Fast forward six weeks and they are now six points clear of safety, it's been an unbelievable turnaround, especially given their run of fixtures. Back in February Saturday's trip to MK Dons was billed as a potential shootout, a must-win game for the Millers. Now they travel to MK knowing that a win would effectively make them safe, putting them nine points above the drop zone with five to play. It's a monumental clash for both teams, but one where Neil Warnock's men do at least have some margin for error. Rotherham's amazing turnaround should serve as warning as to how quickly things can change in this division, but if the Millers can avoid defeat, it should mean that there is no late twist in their relegation fight.
Other observations
- His performances in recent weeks have seen him come back from the dead, but Greg Halford pulled off the most miraculous recovery of all time at Ashton Gate. Down injured and not moving for seven minutes following a clash at a corner, Halford's evening looked over with the stretcher ready to take him off. Yet, somehow he managed to pick himself up, walk off and come back on to complete 90 minutes. The locals were not happy.
- Matt Derbyshire stuck two fingers up to referee Kevin Friend - not literally. Just hours after earning a reprieve from Saturday's red card, Derbyshire scored a world class goal to put his side in front. Taking a long ball out of the sky as if it was on string, he then coolly lifted the ball over Richard O'Donnell. A fine goal.
- It's little wonder Lee Camp is becoming a cult hero at the Millers after he pulls off save after save. His stop to deny Aden Flint from a corner in the first half at Ashton Gate is as good as you will see.
