MIllers pipped by Blues

Clayton Donaldson scored the only goal of the game midway through the second as the Millers failed to score for the fourth match in succession.

They were second best for long spells in the opening 45 minutes and could have been out of it by half time.

Andrew Shinnie and David Cotterill both rattled the woodwork and Adam Collin was forced into good saves by Cotterill and Clayton Donaldson. Rotherham’s best chance of the half came when Jonson Clarke-Harris hesitated when played in behind the defence by Ben Pringle.

The decisive moment came midway through the second half. After surviving a strong penalty claim for a challenge on Alex Revell, the Blues broke downfield and although Donaldson’s initial shot was well saved by Collin, the striker picked himself up to bury the rebound.

Substitute Paul Green screwed wide from a decent position late on as the Millers searched in vain for an equaliser.

Emmanuel Ledesma, the emergency loan signing from Middlesbrough, was introduced as a substitute at half time.

Millers: Collin, Richardson, Skarz, Morgan, Arnason, Taylor (Ledesma 46), Frecklington (Green 67), Smallwood, Pringle, Clarke-Harris (Bowery 72), Revell

Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Grounds, Morrison, Robinson, Cotterill, Gleeson, Davis, Shinnie, Gray (Novak 78), Donaldson

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancs)

Attendance: 10,937 (2,589 visitors)