On-the-whistle report: Superb Smith seals win ... Morecambe 0 Rotherham United 1

A MICHAEL Smith wonder-strike saw Rotherham United take all three points at Morecambe tonight to climb into seventh place in League One.
Morecambe v Millers match action. Picture by Jim BrailsfordMorecambe v Millers match action. Picture by Jim Brailsford
Morecambe v Millers match action. Picture by Jim Brailsford

A MICHAEL Smith wonder-strike saw Rotherham United take all three points at Morecambe tonight to climb into sixth place in League One.

The Millers were worthy of their victory, set up by their centre-forward's scintillating 25-yard strike in the second half, and have now won two of their first three fixtures.

The triumph set them up perfectly for Saturday's home derby showdown with Sheffield Wednesday.

The visitors were dominating after half-time when Smith controlled the ball, came in from the left, looked up and hit a sumptuous shot up and over goalkeeper Jokull Andresson.

Rotherham, looking to make up for the weekend loss at Wigan Athletic, looked sharp from the first whistle but on a blustery evening by the north-west coast chances were hard to come by in the opening stages.

It took until the 24th minute for either team to have an attempt on goal, Morecambe's Arthur Gnahoua curling a shot just wide of Viktor Johansson's left-hand post.

The home side were enjoying a spell of pressure as the half-hour mark approached and it needed a superb, sliding block from Shane Ferguson to snuff out Gnahoua's threat as the Shrimps man took aim again.

Ben Wiles' low shot saw the Millers come back into the game but the stop was an easy one for Andresson.

Soon after, the Morecambe keeper had much more trouble dealing with a fierce Michael Smith drive that he could only palm away for a corner.

The striker's next attempt, in the 38th minute, lacked power and Andresson's save was comfortable this time.

Away fans had travelled in numbers and Paul Warne' men were enjoying vocal backing from well over 600 followers behind the goal and down one side of the ground.

A half that had been all Rotherham, then all Morecambe, then all Rotherham again finished with Wiles blazing and wide and both side going in at the interval believing they could win the contest after the break.

The Millers showed three changes to the team beaten in the dying seconds at Wigan Athletic at the weekend.

New boys centre-half Rarmani Edmonds-Green, midfielder Ollie Rathbone and winger Ferguson came in for first league starts as Richard Wood, Dan Barlaser and Mickel Miller dropped to the bench.

Illness had restricted striker Freddie Ladapo to a second-half cameo at the DW Stadium and, having taken a turn for rhe worse, was missing from the squad entirely against the Shrimps.

The second half was only 27 seconds old when Wiles let fly again but he was off target once more as the quality of his finish failed to match that of the run which created the opening.

Smith showed his teammate how it was done as Rotherham took the lead on 60 minutes, his stunning strike from way outside the box lighting up the match and leaving Andresson clutching air.

Ten minutes later, the frontman was almost at it again, cutting in from the right and unleashing a flashing drive from a tight angle that needed a Morecambe deflection to keep it out.

Morecambe pressed towards the end but the Millers, roared on by their fans, held firm.

Substitute Kieran Sadlier nearly added a second, shooting just over after a Chiedozie Ogbene breakaway, and Rotherham thoroughly deserved to take the home team's unbeaten record.

Morecambe (4-3-3): Jokull Andresson; Kelvin Mellor, Sam Lavelle, Anthony O'Connor, Ryan Cooney; Shane McLoughlin (Adam Phillips 66), Toumani Diagouraga, Alfie McCalmont; Arthur Gnahoua (Wes McDonald 68), Cole Stockton, Josh McPake (Shayon Harrison 76). Subs not used: Callum Jones, Jacob Mensah, Connor Pye, Scott Wootton.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Wood H-t), Michael Ihiekwe, Wes Harding; Chiedozie Ogbene, Jamie Lindsay, Ollie Rathbone, Ben Wiles, Shane Cooper (Joe Mattock 72); Josh Kayode (Kieran Sadlier 78), Michael Smith. Subs not used: Josh Chapman, Hakeem Odoffin, Dan Barlaser, Mickel Miller.

Goals: Smith 60 (Rotherham).

Referee: David Webb (Lancashire).

Attendance: 4,004 (640).

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