Wednesday and Rotherham shared the goals and the spoils from an end to end derby at Hillsborough.

Lucas Joao opened the scoring almost on the half time whistle before the Millers converted twice after the break through Martin Smith and Richie Towell.

But Joao made sure the Owls took a point with his second of the game to conclude an eventful Championship contest.

It was the Millers that took the early initiative, carving a chance inside four minutes and Sami Ajayi might have done better too after a Will Vaulks free kick came his way six yards out.

The defender skewed wide but it was certainly a warning shot from the visitors on a cold and wet Hillsborough afternoon.

Jon Taylor then tried his luck with a drive from range smothered by Cameron Dawson as Rotherham asked more of the questions going forward.

When Wednesday did create, Adam Reach had a sight on goal just before the half-hour mark but dragged past the far post.

Ex-Owl Joe Mattock glanced a header narrowly over his own crossbar before Rotherham charged upfield and Dawson was alert to parry a Michael Smith effort wide.

Then, out of the blue, Wednesday took the lead on the stroke of half time. Reach sent Joao scampering through and the Portuguese kept his nerve to finish calmly beyond Marek Rodak.

The visitors could consider themselves hard done by heading down the tunnel and made immediate amends seconds after the restart.

Vaulks played a long ball over the top seized upon by Smith and the big striker advanced to sidefoot across Dawson and in.

Wednesday were caught cold but regrouped to go straight on the attack and Rodak did well to keep out a fierce Atdhe Nuhiu volley.

Tom Lees missed the target by a whisker from Bannan’s corner but Rotherham’s response was rapid on 54 minutes.

A swift counter saw the ball land at the feet of Towell just outside the box and the midfielder drilled a low drive beneath the diving Dawson.

Back came the Owls and Joao’s second strike of the game on 64 minutes hauled his side level.

Substitute Daniel Pudil picked out Joao from the left and the hitman’s header was powerful and precise to make it 2-2.

That was the trigger for both teams to go for the winner and Rotherham had two excellent opportunities.

First, Vaulks was teed up perfectly inside the penalty area by Smith but the former snatched at his shot and failed to trouble Dawson.

Then, with just six minutes to go, Towell could have gained hero status when presented with a clear opening but scooped high and wide from 12 yards.

Still there was time for Wednesday to stake a claim for the points but Nuhiu fired over the bar from a teasing Reach delivery.

Wednesday: Dawson, Baker, Hector, Lees, Thorniley (Pudil 46), Fox, Pelupessy (Matias 77), Bannan, Reach, Joao, Nuhiu