OXFORD United’s play-off hopes were dealt a fatal blow as Rotherham United came from behind to win a pulsating clash at the New York Stadium.

Dan Barlaser scored at both ends as his tenth-minute own goal gave the U’s the lead, before the Millers midfielder bagged a second-half winner from the penalty spot.

It came after Rarmani Edmonds-Green headed home an equaliser for second-placed Rotherham on the stroke of half-time.

A day that began so promisingly for United ended with them unable to take their Sky Bet League One play-off challenge to the final day, with results elsewhere going against them.

Karl Robinson made two changes to the side that started against MK Dons, with Tuesday’s match-winner Billy Bodin behind Matty Taylor as United switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Ryan Williams was also promoted to the line-up as Gavin Whyte and Nathan Holland dropped to the bench.

Rotherham made one change, with captain Richard Wood coming in at centre back for midfielder Jamie Lindsay as the hosts switched to 3-4-2-1.

The two sets of fans got right behind their respective teams from the kick-off, with a high-intensity start and blustery conditions adding to the frenetic atmosphere.

Rotherham had an early penalty shout when Wood went down trying to reach Barlaser’s free-kick, but referee Charles Breakspear was unmoved and United took the lead moments later.

The U’s utilised the diagonal pass as Elliott Moore found Sam Long, who raced down the right and fired a cross into the six-yard box.

Taylor was lurking at the back post so Barlaser had no choice but to slide in, with Viktor Johansson motionless as the sold-out away end erupted.

Rotherham were most dangerous from set-pieces and Jordi Osei-Tutu headed straight at Jack Stevens following a short free-kick on 14 minutes.

Michael Smith then nodded wide from Barlaser’s curling corss midway through the half as the hosts hunted an equaliser.

United looked to slow the game down whenever possible, with Herbie Kane often taking his time to get up after being fouled.

Chances were at a premium and Smith fired low across goal five minutes from half-time, but the U’s had otherwise contained Rotherham.

It was therefore extra frustrating when they conceded from the last attack of the half, which came after Kane was caught in possession on the edge of the penalty area.

Rotherham forced a pair of corners and they played the second set-piece short, with Edmonds-Green rising high at the back post to head home Ben Wiles’ cross.

Robinson made the big decision to replace Kane with Marcus McGuane at the break, but the Millers had the momentum going into the second half.

Chiedozie Ogbene had some joy chasing long passes into the channels, pulling one cross back for Barlaser to side-foot over from 18 yards.

Wood almost profited from a mix-up between Long and Stevens as both players left a bouncing ball for each other, before United created their first major chance since the goal.

The U’s moved it incisively down the right and Cameron Brannagan’s cross reached Williams, but the Australian could not get the ball out of his feet and Johansson saved his tame effort.

You felt a goal was coming in an end-to-end start to the half and it arrived shortly after the hour mark.

Ogbene beat Luke McNally to the ball on the byline and got the wrong side of the centre back, who brought him down in the penalty area.

Barlaser stepped up to score in front of the United fans for the second time, this time beating Stevens low to the goalkeeper’s right.

Marcus Browne replaced Williams and had his first sight of goal shortly after when he raced onto a through ball, but slipped as he shot from a tight angle.

Whyte came on for Mark Sykes in United’s final change, before Joe Mattock replaced Wes Harding moments after Smith hooked a volley wide.

Rotherham continued to look dangerous on the break and Wiles could have wrapped up victory nine minutes from the end, but Stevens got down to save one-on-one.

United could only force half-chances in response and Taylor volleyed over at the back post, before Bodin headed over in stoppage-time in their final sight of goal.

Rotherham United (3-4-2-1): Johansson, Edmonds-Green, Wood, Ihiekwe, Harding (Mattock 80), Barlaser, Rathbone (Lindsay 90+3), Osei-Tutu, Wiles, Ogbene, Smith.

Unused subs: Chapman, Kelly, Kayode, Odoffin, Bola.

Booked: Harding, Edmonds-Green, Osei-Tutu.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Stevens, Long, McNally, Moore, Brown, Kane (McGuane 46), Brannagan, Williams (Browne 70), Bodin, Sykes (Whyte 78), Taylor.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Forde, Seddon, Holland.

Booked: Taylor, Williams.

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Attendance: 10,415 (1,192 visitors).