Millers' away triumph

ROTHERHAM United got their festive programme off to a cracking start by bagging three important points at fellow Championship strugglers Wigan Athletic.

Goals from Tom Lawrence, his first since his loan move from Leicester, and Alex Revell clinched a deserved 2-1 win, their first on the road since August.

Although they had an early scare when home danger man Callum McManaman weaved his way into the penalty area and forced Adam Collin to block, Rotherham settled to play the better stuff. Reece James and Revell both brought good saves out of Scott Carson and Lawrence was foiled by a last-ditch tackle.

The nippy striker wasn’t to be denied five minutes before half time, seizing on a defensive error to slot home.

The Millers back line had looked comfortable but dropped their guard midway through the second period when Ben Watson headed in from James McClean’s corner.

The celebrations had only just died down when Revell netted the winner at the other end, sending a looping header over Carson from Emmanuel Ledesma’s free-kick.

While Rotherham had further chances to make sure of the points, they were relieved when substitute Oriol Riera’s late header hit the crossbar and despite the addition of six minutes of stoppage time, Wigan couldn’t force a leveller.

Wigan: Carson, Taylor, Barnett, Boyce, Perch, Maloney (Fortune 53), Cowie (Riera 63), Watson, McClean, McManaman, McCann (Forshaw 80)

Millers: Collin, Wootton, James, Morgan, Arnason, Ledesma (Taylor 80), Green, Smallwood, Pringle, Lawrence (Bowery 71), Revell (Frecklington 85)

Referee: Keith Stroud (Dorset)