ANALYSIS: Millers disappearing over the edge

Millers after conceding the only goal of the game at Bristol City

It's hard to argue anything but after they hit yet another dead end at Bristol City on Saturday.

Fifteen points from safety (16 if you include the inferior goal difference) is a bad enough deficit in October, let alone February.

Not only have they now lost 22 of their 30 matches, there's not even been the consolation of a goal lately for Paul Warne and the long suffering supporters.

The drought now stretches to more than six hours of football, equalling their worst run since returning to the Championship.

Damning though those statistics are, no-one can accuse Rotherham of going down without a fight.

They're pouring in the effort for Warne and at Bristol, like many times this season, they were still in contention at half time but, again, the familiar fault lines showed themselves in the second half.

That extra quality in the opposition ranks tells and this time it came in the shape of 19-goal Tammy Abraham, the impish Lee Tomlin and City's vastly experienced new signing David Cotterill.

Rotherham did a decent job of shackling all three but such is their luck this season, they were undone by a goal crafted by City's three substitutes.

Bristol Rovers convert Matty Taylor fed Jamie Paterson and when his rasping drive forced Richard O'Donnell to parry, 6ft 2in Milan Djuric was on hand to nod in the decider.

By that point, 17 minutes from time, the Millers had been well in the game.

Abraham should have punished them from a first-half shot on the turn and O'Donnell did well to keep out headers from Jen Hegeler and Abraham but the home defence had some nervous moments. A frustratred Danny Ward flashed a near-post stab just wide and City defender Mark Little nearly turned a teasing centre from Anthony Forde into his own net.

Warne had pushed Joe Mattock up into a five-man midfield to accommodate newcomer Ben Purrington at left-back. The Championship rookie was nice and assured and there was a good display from another of the newcomers, centre-half Semi Ajayi.

Although both helped Rotherham stay in it until well into the second half, any attacking threat had dried up by the time the deciding goal arrived and even with the fresh legs of subs Jerry Yates, Jon Taylor and Dexter Blackstock and a switch to three up front, an equaliser didn't look like coming.

There’s no sign of a respite.

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