Millers slump to Charlton

A goal from recent signing Chris Burke wasn’t enough to stave off a 4-1 defeat, with the visitors bagging their first win since November and pulling within a  point in the process.

A late penalty miss from Jonson Clarke-Harris compounded the frustration at a poor display.

Charlton got their nosts in front inside the first four minutes when possession was squandered and Igor Vetokele broke away and squared for the unmarked Simon Makienok to steer in from the edge of the box.

Burke was making his home debut on loan from Nottingham Forest and took only 11 minutes to mark it with a goal. Danny Ward’s pass set him free just inside the area and the winger cooly picked his spot low past goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

As the snow sheeted down, Rotherham did all the pressing for the rest of the half. Grant Ward and Burke had half chances but Charlton carried pace on the break and made it count just before half time. Johann Berg Gudmundsson beat skipper Kirk Broadfoot down the right and his cross left a tap-in for Igor Vetokele.

Luciano Becchio was introduced at half time and  Andrew Shinnie, fresh in from Birmingham City, was brought on for his debut but Neil Redfearns’ men still found clear chances hard to come by.

While Charlton took advantage when Makienock headed home his second of the game on 70 minutes, the Millers were still offered a route back into the game soon after. Chris Solly felled Jonson Clarke-Harris but the substitute blazed the subsequent penalty high into the stand.

A stooping save from Henderson prevented Becchio heading a late consolation goal and many home fans had headed for home by the time sub Ademola Lookman raced through to add the Addicks’ fourth.

Millers: Camp, Facey, Mattock, Rawson, Broadfoot, Smallwood, Green  (Becchio 46), Burke (Shinnie 60), Grant Ward, Newell (Clarke-Harris 60), Danny Ward

Charlton: Henderson, Jackson, Gudmondsson, Cousins, Solly, Fox, Lennon, Teixeira, Makienok, Bergdich,Vetokele

Referee: Keith Stroud

Attendance: 9,227 (739 visitots)