United took the lead on 35 minutes when Jose Baxter collected Tony McMahon's throw-in on the right. There looked to be nothing on for the for the former-Everton man but, when turning with the ball, he found the Rotherham defence in accommodating mood.
Cutting along the bye-line unbridled by a tackle, Baxter looked as if he was about to cut the ball- back but surprised everyone, not least home 'keeper Shearer, by firing low into the far corner.
Rotherham began the second-half with Daniel Nardiello on for Craig Morgan and a more positive aspect to their play as they reverted to 4-4-2. Within minutes Mark Howard had to be at his best to deny the rampaging Alex Revell, on 49 minutes Revell rose like a Deliah Smith cake only to see Howard get his way by collecting the striker's downward header at his left-hand post.
Rotherham's incessant pressure paid-off on 51 minutes when Kieran Agard latched-on to poor United clearance and found himself in more space than Captain Kirk. Agard had time to control the ball and steady himself before unleashing a twenty-five yard thunderbolt that beat Howard all ends up.
Sheffield United were as rattled as shutters in a cyclone. Rotherham kept up the pressure and both Frecklington and Revell went close to giving the home side the lead.
Rotherham were not to be denied. On 70 minutes Neill Collins bundled-over Nardiello and referee Andy D'Urso pointed accusingly at the spot. With the photographers perched behind Howard's goal like seagulls on a seawall, Nardiello sent his spot-kick low the United keeper's left to give the home side a deserved lead.
Five minutes later, an errant back-pass from Harry McGuire was seized upon by Rob MIlson who, from 18-yards tried to find the same spot in the back of the net as Nardiello and succeeded.
The win maintains Rotherham's unbeaten league form and lifts them to fourth in League One, albeit manager Steve Evans was given to sober assessment.
"I'm delighted with the win, obviously, but we've a had a good rather than great start to the season, " said the Millers boss.
"I got it wrong in the first-half but right in the second. We changed it around and it worked. We had to get more support to our front two and quicker, which is what we did and they couldn't cope with it."
Sheffield United manager David Weir could not hide his disappointment.
"The manner of the way we collapsed in the second-half is very, very disappointing, " said Weir.
"We contributed in no small way to our own defeat and didn't deserve to win"
ROTHERHAM UNITED (4-1-4-1) ; Shearer; Brindley ,Davis,Morgan (Nardiello 46), Skarz; Mills; Milsom, Frecklington, Pringle, Agard; Revell.
Subs: Collin (GK),Hylton,Tubbs, Nardiello, Tidser, Rowe.
Booked: Morgan (14)
SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-4-2); Howard; McMahon, Maguire, Collins, Hill, Flynn (Bunn 69); Coady,Cuvelier, Doyle; Baxter, Porter (Taylor 69).
Subs: Willis (GK); Westlake, Bunn,McGinn, Ironside, Taylor, McFadzean.
*Booked: McMahon 82*
Ref: A. D'Urso (Essex)
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