Darren Byfield grabbed two goals against his former club to help Rotherham win a seven-goal thriller at the Bescot Stadium.

Byfield's double, and a third from Alan Lee, gave Rotherham a 3-1 lead within the first half-an-hour.

But a double from David Zdrilic and a clinical finish from Jorge Leitao dragged Walsall level.

Lee hammered home his second from the penalty spot in the 78th minute and Rotherham withstood late Walsall pressure to earn their third away win of the season.

Both sides began brightly and Rotherham, without a win in their last three league games, could have gone ahead as early as the fourth minute.

Rotherham's surprise winner

Paul Hurst slung in a cross from the right touchline and Paul Warne's right-footed shot forced a smart save from Walsall goalkeeper James Walker.

The home side went ahead in the 14th minute when Byfield, who spent two seasons with Walsall before signing for the Millers in March, shot into the roof of the net after the home defence failed to clear.

But the visiting fans had barely sat down before Walsall were level. The ball was worked to Zigor Aranalde on the right wing and Zdrilic reacted quickest to convert his well-worked cross.

Both defences were being pulled all over the place and Byfield restored Rotherham's lead in the 22nd minute.

Darren Garner took a free-kick from the right and Byfield showed his sharpness to hammer a low drive into the net.

Garner's delivery was superb throughout the first half and his inswinging corner saw Lee score Rotherham's third with a towering header after 30 minutes.

Walsall were shell-shocked but, to their credit, took the game to Rotherham as half-time approached.

Martin McIntosh failed to clear Martin O'Connor's cross and Zdrilic beat Mike Pollitt only to see his left-footed strike rebound off the post.

But the Australian did score his second of the game on the stroke of half-time.

There seemed little on when he picked the ball up 30 yards from goal but he unleashed a fierce shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Walsall were enjoying the lion's share of possession after 17 minutes of the half Leitao latched onto a knock-down from Darren Bazeley's cross to level.

Rotherham had barely figured as an attacking threat in the second half, but incredibly they regained the lead with a fourth goal 12 minutes from time.

Chris Sedgwick was fouled by Aranalde in the box and Lee blasted the resulting penalty low to Pollitt's right.

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Carbon, Hay, Aranalde, Wrack, O'Connor, Sonner, Corica, Leitao, Zdrilic. Subs: Ward, Roper, Wright, Junior, Simpson.

Rotherham: Pollitt, Scott, Swailes, McIntosh, Hurst, Sedgwick, Mullin, Garner, Warne, Lee, Byfield. Subs: Gray, Richard Barker, Robins, Beech, Daws.

Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).