Millers well beaten

Striving for back-to-back victories for the first time this season, they conceded all the goals before the interval to scupper their chances of following up Saturday’s big three-pointer against Millwall. The only consolation was a late strike from Danny Ward.

Two goals in two minutes midway through the first period put the visitors in control.

Bruno Ecuele Manga was left with an easy header from a corner kick to open the scoring after 24 minutes and moments later Federico Macheda thrashed in a stunning volley on the turn.

More suspect defending let Cardiff in for a third goal on 36 minutes. The home defence failed to deal with another ball into the box and Conor McAleny stabbed into the root of the net.

Rotherham raised their game in the second half, although it took a smart double save from Adam Collin to deny Cardiff a fourth on the break.

 Substitute Adam Hammill forced a good save and Paul Green’s follow-up was blocked on the line before Ward headed his second goal in as many games to reduce the arrears nine minutes from time. However it was too little and too late to deny former Millers favourite Alex Revell a winning return to his old stamping ground.

Millwall’s defeat at Middlesbrough means the gap to the bottom three remains at six points.

Millers: Collin, Hunt, Fryers, Broadfoot, Arnason, Newton (Hammill 46), Smallwood, Green, Pringle, Ward, Derbyshire (Sammon 59)

Cardiff: Marshall (Moore 46), Peltier, Ecuele Manga, McAleny, Connolly, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Kennedy, Revel (Jones 86)l, Macheda (Doyle 70), Morrison

Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire)

Attendance: 8,534 (396 visitors)