Clarke-Harris at the double for Millers

The striker struck twice in the opening 26 minutes to put the Millers in control and a late effort from Lee Frecklington wrapped up a 3-0 win and three valuable points in their fight near the foot of the Championship.

There were some scares along the way and City, attacking with width and pace, could count themselves unlucky to trail 2-0 at the break.

Marlon Pack and Elliott Bennett went close in the opening seconds and ex-Miller Kieran Agard might also have had a couple on his first visit to the New York since leaving last year.

The visitors were also shaky at the back and Clarke-Harris punished them with two emphatic finishes. He took possession out wide and cut in to curl a delicious left-footer inside the far post after ten minutes.

The striker also forced goalkeeper Frankie Fielding to claw away a cross-shot before blasting in his second from the penalty spot after Jonathan Kodjia impeded Kirk Broadfoot.

Clarke-Harris looked  unplayable at times and only a desperate block denied him a first-half hat-trick.

Rotherham did a good job of protecting the lead and gave the visitors far fewer glimpses of goal in the second 45 minutes.

They still needed a third goal to make sure and it arrived 15 minutes from time when Danny Ward teed up Frecklington to tuck away his first of the season from close range.

The clean sheet was an added bonus for Neil Redfearn’s men and they’ve put themselves in with a chance of climbing out of the bottom three when they take on Wolves at the NYS next Saturda y.

Millers: Camp, Buxton, Collins, Broadfoot, Kelly (Rawson 44), Grant Ward, Frecklington (Barker 86), Smallwood, Newell (Hyam 82), Clarke-Harris, Ward

Bristol City: Fielding, Williams, Baker (Moore 46), Flint, Ayling, Smith, Freeman, Bennett, Pack, Agard(Wilbrahim 58), Kodjia (Cox 68)

Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)

Attendance: 8,949 (866 visitors)