Battling Millers pipped by Canaries

The Premier League visitors were given a stern test at a drizzly New York Stadium and survived a late strike from substitute Paul Green to win 2-1.

After recent struggles in the league, the Millers’ efforts were appreciated by the home crowd, who clapped them off the field at the finish.

Declan Rudd was the busier keeper in the first half but the visitors still ended it with the advantage.

He kept out Jonson Clarke-Harris’s close-range header and a close-range stab from the striker as well as foiling Emmanuel Ledesma.

As expected, Adam Collin was recalled in goal for the struggling Kelle Roos but was powerless to stop a sweet 23rd strike from Jonny Howson, the midfield man rifling the ball into the corner from a cutting break away.

Collin did well to deny the Canaries’ record signing, Ricky Van Wolfswinkle, in first-half injury time but the Millers went into the second half with optimism.

Their strong push from the restart should have brought an equaliser. Rudd touched Greg Halford’s header onto the bar and tipped over Joe Newell’s follow-up. Newell also screwed a good chance wide before the visitors notched their second goal on 68 minutes, glanced into the net by Van Wolkswinkel from Andre Wisdom’s low cross.

Undeterred, Rotherham came back and Matt Derbyshire fired over an open goal and saw Rudd tip away a curler before substitute Paul Green volleyed in to hand them a lifeline with nine minutes to go.

City had to do plenty of defending to protect the lead and secure their place in the third round.

 Millers: Collin, Buxton, Halford, Collins, Richardson, Ledesma, Frecklington (Maguire 16), Newell, Grant Ward, Clarke-Harris, Derbyshire

Norwich: Rudd, Wisdom, Johnson, Bassong, Howson (Andreu 74), Toffolo, Dorrans, Bennett (Dorrans 80), O’Neil, Van Wolfswinkel, Odjidja-Ofoe

Referee: Kevin Wright (Merseyside)

Attendance: 5,648 (1,029 visitors)