Character on the road from the Millers ... on-the-whistle-report: Stoke City 0 Rotherham United 1

The gutsy Millers took an early lead and then held out heroically for a three-point haul at the bet365 Stadium tonight that moved them up to tenth place in the table.

The home side continually threatened but the visitors, rock solid, organised and fighting for everything, got bodies in the way throughout the contest.

New boss Matt Taylor was a very satisfied manager at the final whistle.

Rotherham were in front after only six minutes and it was Ollie Rathbone, scoring his first league goal of the campaign, who put them ahead.

Dan Barlaser and Shane Ferguson worked the ball to him from a short corner and the midfielder's bending effort evaded everyone and bounced, untouched, into the far corner.

It was hard to tell if he'd intended to shoot or cross but none of the 400 or so Millers fans gathered at the other end cared as they celebrated wildly as the ball nestled in the net.

The Millers were making a promising start and Rathbone tried his luck again on 13 minutes. This time his radar was awry and his attempt flew harmlessly over the bar into the Stoke kop.

On 19 minutes, Viktor Johansson produced a brilliant stop to deny Tyrese Campell in a one-on-one as the Potters man raced in on goal.

There were groans of disappointment from a home crowd who had already been voicing their frustration at the visitors being in front.

In the meantime, chants of "Come on, Rotherham" rang out from the away stand.

Morgan Fox stung Johansson's palms but the Millers were holding firm, with the irrepressible Rathbone showing up everywhere.

Liam Delap headed for goal and the Millers goalkeeper was there again befoe Tariqe Fosu threatened at the back post but couldn't keep the ball down.

As the half-hour mark came and went on a mild October night in the Potteries, most of the pressure was now coming from the home side.

Solid defending kept Stoke at bay and City's only other effort on target before the break was a low shot by Liam Delap easily held by Johansson.

Boss Taylor had made several changes to the side that had won Saturday's Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town 2-1.

The headline news was a first-ever league start for striker Georgie Kelly after his match-winning contribution off the bench against the Terriers.

Centre-forwards Conor Washington and Tom Eaves dropped down to join the substitutes and midfield man Ben Wiles was pushed up into a 'number 10' role in a 3-5-1-1 line-up.

That left an opening in the centre of the park for Hakeem Odoffin to start in this division for the first time.

Centre-half Cameron Humphreys and wing-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy returned to the side.

Delap, having dived in the first half in a bid to win a penalty, was more honest as he made ground five minutes after the restart only to be comfortably thwarted by Johansson.

Not long afterwards, Wes Harding cleared off the line to deny the same player a headed equaliser.

Still the Stoke pressure came and still Rotherham dealt with everything that was thrown at them.

As the match entered its closing stages, Campbell shot over and Johansson had to save from Lewis Baker but Taylor's men were managing to keep clear-cut chances to a minimum.

A golden opportunity did present itself to Stoke in the 84th minute, however, only for Campbell to head wastefully across goal and wide.

A final flourish from Johansson saw him tip away Nick Powell's header, Jacob Brown fired over and a very, very hard-earned victory was Rotherham's.

Stoke (4-1-3-2): Joe Bursik; Dujon Sterling (D'Margio Wright-Phillips 79), Phil Jagielka, Ben Wilmot, Morgan Fox (Harry Clarke 68); Josh Laurent; Tyrese Campbell, Lewis Baker, Tariqe Fosu (Jordan Thompson 79); Dwight Gayle (Nick Powell 71), Liam Delap (Jacob Brown 71). Subs not used: Jack Bonham, Aden Flint.

Rotherham (3-5-1-1): Viktor Johansson; Wes Harding, Grant Hall (Richard Wood 63), Cameron Humphreys; Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Hakeem Odoffin (Conor Washington 76), Dan Barlaser, Ollie Rathbone, Shane Ferguson (Cohen Bramall 76); Ben Wiles (Scott High 82); Georgie Kelly (Tom Eaves 76). Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Lee Peltier.

Goals: Rathbone 6 (Rotherham).

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Attendance: 18,036 (408).