Derbyshire strike earns good point

Matt Derbyshire’s first-half effort was cancelled out by Peter Odemwingie in a 1-1 draw and with MK Dons losing on the night, the Millers inched six points above the Championship relegation zone.

Derbyshire, whose red card against Leeds on Saturday was rescinded only hours before kick off, made his presence felt quickly when he latched onto Richard Wood’s ball forward and calmly lobbed goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell after 12 minutes.

For the rest of the half the Millers dealt with City’s threats relatively comfortably, their one moment of danger coming when Lee Camp showed sharp reflexes to turn over Aden Flint’s header.

The stopper was powerless to stop the hosts’ equaliser nine minutes into the second half. The ball broke to Odemwingie in the box and he thrashed it in with venom.

The goal lifted them and the Millers were forced to defend and Camp reached into to top drawer to deny Odemwingie a second from a close-range header.

O’Donnell showed similarly sharp reflexes to keep out substitute Danny Ward’s point-blank effort and Camp helped preserve a point when he blocked a stinger from sub Jonathan Kodjia.

A draw was just about a fair result and sets Neil Warnock's men up nicely for Saturday's biggie at Milton Keynes.

Bristol City: O’Donnell, Matthews, Goldbourne (Freeman 76), Baker, Flint, Pack, Smith, Bryan, Odemwingie (Kodjia 82), Tomlin, Wilbraham

Millers: Camp, Kelly, Mattock, Broadfoot, Wood, Smallwood, Halford, Grant Ward, Derbyshire (Danny Ward 65), Frecklington, Best

Referee: Gavin Ward

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