Rival manager's glowing assessment of Rotherham United and hot-shot Michael Smith

OPPOSITION boss Danny Cowley hailed Michael Smith as arguably the top striker in League One after the Rotherham United frontman's two-goal show in today's 4-1 demolition of Portsmouth.
Michael Smith enjoys himself against Portsmouth. Picture by Kerrie BeddowsMichael Smith enjoys himself against Portsmouth. Picture by Kerrie Beddows
Michael Smith enjoys himself against Portsmouth. Picture by Kerrie Beddows

Former Pompey man Smith netted twice to move on to ten goals for the season as three Millers strikes in eight minutes blew away the visitors at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

They remain fifth in League One after stretching their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Portsmouth head coach Cowley said: “Credit to Rotherham because they showed us what a good team in League One look like.

"They have pace, power and athleticism and probably the best number nine in the league."

Millers manager Paul Warne described his centre-forward as 'colossal' as Smith bagged the first two goals before Richard Wood and Ben Wiles completed the rout.

Smith headed in the opener and Marcus Harness levelled up the game up early in the second half.

Then, as Rotherham ran riot, Smith added his second with a cheeky 54th-minute back-heel, skipper Richard Wood powered in a header five minutes later and three minutes after that Ben Wiles rounded off proceedings with an emphatic finish.

Warne said: “Portsmouth are a good team and you can see they're really well coached. To score four goals against a side like that is pleasing.

“Obviously, strikers are judged by their scoring, but I don't judge them just on that. Smudge has been colossal and he leads the line really well. He works hard in the gym and on the training ground and he is getting his just rewards.

“He was excellent, as he has been in many games. He was unplayable at times. He is the one who takes the headlines because of his goals but I thought the midfield three were really good and Mikel (Miller) gave an amazing performance out on the left."