MATCH REPORT: Poor night for the Millers

The Millers rarely looked like taking anything from their long trip to the south coast as the hosts prevailed  3-0 with strikes from Anthony Knockaert, Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed.

Alan Stubbs handed a full debut to Darnell Fisher in defence and fielded three centre-backs for the first time this season, with the side set up to contain. The plan worked for the first 20 minutes but Albion showed their class once they got in front and their tally means Rotherham have now conceded 13 goals in four games.

A smart finish on the turn from Knockaert had them in front on 23 minutes and the Millers were only just digesting that blow when Liam Rosenior crossed for Murray to turn the ball in from close range. The damage could have been greater by half time but for the reflexes of Lee Camp.

The pattern of the game remained the same after the break, with Rotherham forced onto the back foot, and when captain Kelly brought down Murray on 56 minutes, Hemed rolled in the resulting penalty to all but end the match as a contest.

It wasn’t until the latter stages that Danny Ward forced Niki Maenpaa’s first serious save of the night. Will Vaulks followed up with a wicked dipping effort from distance as the Millers pressed but it was too little too late.

Brighton: Maenpaa, Saltor, Bong, Dunk, Stephens, Knockeart (LuaLua 69), Murphy, Norwood, Rosenior, Murray (Baldock 69), Hemed

Millers: Camp, Fishe (Thorpe 87), Mattock, Wilson, Kelly, Ball, Smallwood, Vaulks, Forde (Allan 46)[, Ward, Taylor

Referee: Simon Hooper

Attendance: 25,128 (248 visitors)