MATCH REPORT: Rotherham United outdone by Preston

ROTHERHAM United manager Kenny Jackett is still  looking for his first win in charge after an 11th league defeat of the season, this time at the hands of Preston North End.

The team’s defensive frailties dogged them again as they went down 3-1, their only consolation a second-half effort from skipper Richard  Wood.

Hopes of a good result to mark the 100th league game at the New York Stadium were shot down within the first half hour as the visitors cut through the home defence at will.

Jordan Hugill glanced a header inside Lee Camp’s left-hand post to open the scoring on 22 minutes and more suspect marking allowed Callum Robinson to nod in the second five minutes later.

Rotherham put little together going forward and Preston keeper Chris Maxwell was required to make only one serious save in the first half, beating out Danny Ward’s drive.  Jon Taylor blazed over from an angle.

After such a poor 45, Jackett made changes, hooking the ineffective Dominic Ball and Dexter Blackstock for Greg Halford and Peter Odemwingie.

After surviving a couple more scares, it was Odemwengie’s awareness that helped the Millers get back into it on 71 minutes, his quality ball into the area met with a glancing header from Wood which squeezed past Maxwell.

Preston wobbled for a spell but they settled their nerves, and the match, ten minutes from time when they powered forward and substitute Marnick Vermijl finished off at the far post.

The Millers are now without a win in 12 games at the foot of the Championship table, eight points from safety. 

Millers: Camp, Fisher, Mattock, Wood, Fry, Taylor (Brown 76), Vaulks, Ball (Halford 46), Newell, Ward, Blackstock (Odemwingie 46)

Preston: Maxwell, Baptise, Clarke, Wright, Cunningham, McGeady, Gallagher, Johnson, Pringle (Vermijl 77), Robinson, Hugill (Makienok 46)

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northants)

Attendance: 10,013 (1,559 visitors)