Rotherham United boss Paul Warne on Michael Smith transfer interest and the derby win over Doncaster Rovers

Two-goal Michael Smith. Picture by Dave Poucher

The transfer window closes on Tuesday and the Millers are braced for approaches for their 29-year-old targetman.

Warne said: “I haven't taken a phone call about him. However, I do know a lot of people admire him and so they should. He has been excellent for us.

“I don't foresee anyone paying the fee the chairman wants, but what do I know? I didn't see Ronaldo going to Manchester United but it still happened.

“Hopefully this group will all stay and play a big part for us this season."

Smith's first-half double was more than enough to earn the points for Rotherham who saw out the bulk of the second half with ten men after Mikel Miller's lunge on Kyle Knoyle saw the winger receive a straight red card.

“Overall, I thought everyone put a good shift in," Warne said. "Smith will get the headlines but it was definitely one of those team days.

“I thought our play in the first half was really good. We needed the two goals because going down to ten men caused us problems.

“It was a good team performance to hang in there and not concede. Donny had loads of the ball in the second half but very few attempts on goal. That is testament to the lads and their togetherness.”

Victory moved Rotherham close to the League One play-off places while Doncaster remain in the bottom four.

Rovers manager Richie Wellens said: “The last half an hour flabbergasted me.

“We carried on trying to play through the middle and there was too much tippy-tappy rubbish, to be honest.

“I thought in the first half we played through them really easily.

“The biggest frustration of all was we know their threats. We worked on them. We wanted to put a front screen on Smith but we didn't. We didn't compete physically against them.

“I think they showed where they're at and we showed where we're at.

“We didn't put the ball in the box enough and when we did the quality wasn't good enough.

“We need to stick together. The (international) break has come at a welcome time.”