Inspired Millers sting the Bees

ROTHERHAM United earned themselves a Championship lifeline as Neil Warnock notched his first win in charge at the expense of Brentford at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The Millers produced their best display in weeks to win 2-1 with Matt Derbyshire and substitute Danny Ward scoring either side of an Alan Judge goal.

With MK Dons losing, the gap to safety is down to three points with a dozen games remaining.

The experienced trio of Jerome Thomas, Leon Best and Lee Frecklington came in and gave the side a fresh impetus and the visitors could have no complaints with the result.

Rotherham had the better of the first half and were unlucky to go in at half time only drawing.

Frecklington, Best and Greg Halford all went close and although Judge’s free-kick from inside the D brought a flying save from Lee Camp, the Millers deservedly took the lead on 29 minutes.

Brentford were cut open down the right and Frecklington squared for Derbyshire to fire in off the far post.

All the good work was undone by a controversial decision from referee Mark Brown two minutes before half time. Frecklington’s challenge on Sergio Canos looked fair but the official astonished everyone by pointing to the spot. Justice seemed to be done when Camp kept out Judge’s penalty kick only for the loose ball to fall conveniently for the forward to tuck in the rebound.

The visitors’ goal continued to live a charmed life in the second half, with the Bees throwing bodies in the way to protect goalkeeper David Button. But after the stopper tipped a dipper from Ward onto the bar, the resulting corner ended with the striker drilling in hard and low to make it 2-1 on 71 minutes.

A miraculous double block by Frazer Richardson protected the lead and it took a smart stoppage time save by Camp from sub Lasse Vibe to make sure of a morale-boosting first win in eight.

Brentford: Button, Bidwell, Dean, Djuricin (Hoffman 64), McEachran (Kerschbaumer78), Woods, Judge, Swift, O’Connell, Yannaris, Canos (Vibe 83)

Millers: Camp, Richardson, Mattock, Broadfoot, Wood, Halford, Smallwood, Frecklington, Thomas (Grant Ward 75), Best (Danny Ward 64), Derbyshire

Referee: Mark Brown (East Yorkshire)

Attendance: 8,534 (556 visitors)