Two goals, ten men and Michael Smith ... the story of Rotherham United 2 Doncaster Rovers 0

"TODAY'S Man of the Match award, sponsored by Eagle Platforms, goes to Rotherham United's number 24, Michael Smith."

AESSEAL New York Stadium roared its approval at the announcement late in the second half. Fans knew they were witnessing a special contribution from a special Miller.

Smith had scored twice, he'd out-muscled and out-run the Doncaster Rovers' backline and ten-man Rotherham were cantering to a derby-day triumph that moved them up to eighth in League One, only a point away from the play-off places.

Paul Warne's side had put on an all-round show of strength but the name of only one player was on everyone's lips.

Smith was turning it on three days before the close of the transfer window, and he has his admirers elsewhere. As spectators delighted in the centre-forward's display, they also dreaded the prospect of a possible departure.

"Yeah, he was okay today," deadpanned Warne as the Smudge questions flew at him in the after-match press conference.

"He scored twice and won most of his headers. He was a bit unlucky with a few decisions here and there as well. Just because you're colossal doesn't mean you should get fouled and it be acceptable.

"He led the line really well. Smudge's goals aren't where he stops. He works hard for the team, as do all the lads. It was a fitting team performance.

The boss was smiling thinly as he added: "With the window not far from closing, I'd rather talk about the team!"

THE MATCH

Creedence Clearwater's Have You Ever Seen The Rain? was first up on the Rovers' playlist in the away dressing room ahead of the scheduled 1pm Saturday start.

That was the calm before the storm mentioned in the song because at half-time there was a right old bust-up behind closed doors, with tempers and voices raised and a thud against the wall.

Doncaster knew how much they'd been bossed in a men-against-boys opening period delayed by 15 minutes because of continuing turnstile issues.

Following a justified but unheeded Millers penalty shout when Freddie Ladapo was pulled back and a Jamie Lindsay header disallowed for offside, Smith made the breakthrough on 27 minutes, slipping the ball past Pontus Dahlberg after being played in by Mickel Miller.

Goal number two

The striker's second arrived on the stroke of half-time as he volleyed home from the edge of the area and there had also been attempts on goal from Miller, who went on to be red-carded after the break, Ladapo twice, Ollie Rathbone twice and Kieran Sadlier.

"We were excellent in the first half," Warne said. "We could have scored four. We were pretty dominant. I still thought we could have been better in the final third at time. I'm always looking for perfection."

On another day, Sadlier, responding to the challenge of playing against his old club by shining for his present one, would have been the headline act.

He had the beating of left-back Branden Horton for skill and pace and as the abuse from the away end rained down the crosses from the winger rained in.

"He was a constant threat," Warne said. "In a weird way, it probably helped that the opposition fans - part pantomime, I know - were booing.

"It's a nice feeling when you get booed by the other fans. You think: 'Yeah. keep booing and I'll keep causing you problems.'"

Smith, who has now scored three times in the first five league matches, is so modest that he sped away from New York soon after the final whistle, the idea that his presence might be welcomed in the media suite never crossing his mind.

It was left to new boy Rathbone to speak for him.

The thing that's impressed me the most is he's really mobile, really quick," the midfielder said. "He can run in behind defences, which for a targetman is brilliant. Hopefully we can keep hold of him. I'll be very excited if I turn up for training after the window has shut and I can see him."

Miller saw red in the 53rd-minute, turning Rotherham's 11-man hunt for more goals into a problem-free, ten-man mission of containment.

Rovers, hogging possession but with little poke up top, mustered only a long-distance shot from Matt Smith and a stoppage-time effort from Ro-Shaun Williams, both of which were easily dealt with by Viktor Johansson.

Kieran Sadlier torments his former club

"I'm pleased," Warne said. "To win 2-0 and keep a clean sheet is good. It was nice to be on the right side of the result.

"After the loss to Sheffield Wednesday last week, we said to the lads beforehand: 'Good teams don't lose back-to-back games and good teams definitely don't lose back-to-back derby games.'

"The lads defended great. Viktor came for a couple of things and we limited Donny to shots from distance and balls into the box. That suits us. We can defend those."

As the manager spoke, to his left, on top of a filing cabinet, were a pair of boxing gloves and a tiny, plastic bubble gun.

Bizarre, but a perfect metaphor for how one team attacked in the first half and how the other couldn't in the second.

THE DISMISSAL

If only Miller had thought as quickly as he was running.

Rotherham were in complete control and there was absolutely for no need for the winger, chasing a ball he'd pushed too far, to jump in on Kyle Knoyle inside the Doncaster half.

He'll have plenty of time to contemplate the error of his ways because the foul, rightly, brought a straight red and a three-game ban.

"He was on a booking already," Warne said. "When I saw the challenge I knew we were in trouble because it was definitely at least another yellow.

"Mickel is not a dirty player, he wanted to win the ball back. The ref was closer than me and I have to respect what the ref has done.

"It was a massive blow. We're a fit, motivated group and we're usually good in the last half an hour. With 11 players we could have kicked on. As it was, it was the longest 40 minutes of my life."

Mickel Miller departs

It cost Smith any chance of a first hat-trick of his career, although that probably bothered the laid-back attacker less than anyone.

With no league match for a fortnight, Warne had given the 29-year and his teammates players a few days off and was planning a short break on the coast himself.

"I'll turn off my phone and tell the chairman to do the same," he said. "I know there were a lot of scouts here today watching some of our players.

"It would need a pretty phenomenal offer to turn the chairman's head on Smudge. He wants to see his team win every week, as do I.

"I'm not worried about Smudge scoring twice today. It's pretty bad recruitment if a club leave it to the last weekend of the window and they're still not sure. You either like him or you don't."

At the end, there was no real show of emotion from the man of the moment, just a couple of hugs and a few handshakes before he wandered over to applaud supporters in the North Stand who rose in their appreciation.

A little wave and self-conscious grin for his watching family completed proceedings and he disappeared down the tunnel.

It's how he's spent the last three and a half years with Rotherham.

Maximum impact, minimum fuss.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Michael Ihiekwe, Richard Wood, Wes Harding; Kieran Sadlier (Dan Barlaser 71), Ben Wiles, Jamie Lindsay, Ollie Rathbone (Rarmani Edmonds-Green 90+1), Mickel Miller; Freddie Ladapo (Joe Mattock 57), Michael Smith. Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Curtis Tilt, Hakeem Odoffin, Josh Kayode.

Doncaster (4-3-3): Pontus Dahlberg; Kyle Knoyle, Ro-Shaun Williams, Cameron John, Branden Horton (Tiago Cukur 52); Ethan Galbraith, John Bostock (Aidan Barlow 61), Ben Close; Charlie Seaman, Matt Smith, Tommy Rowe. Subs not used: Louis Jones, Dan Gardner, AJ Greaves, Ben Blythe, Liam Ravenhill.

Goals: Smith 27, 45 (Rotherham).

Red card: Miller 53 (Rotherham).

Referee: Martin Coy (County Durham).

Attendance: 9,748 (1,716).