250 no magic number as Millers slide nearer to the bottom three ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 0 Coventry City 2

Today's clash with Coventry City at AESSEAL New York Stadium brought up the boss's milestone but the occasion was spoiled by the Sky Blues who inflicted a damaging defeat on his side.

The Millers fell behind soon into the second half and couldn't muster a response that would see them take anything from the contest. A stoppage-time concession rubbed salt into their wounds.

With teams below them winning, they are in 21st spot, two points clear of the relegation reckoning.

January signing Jordan Hugill thought he'd scored his first goal for the club on four minutes as he powered home a header from a corner, but the striker's joy lasted for only for as long as it took referee Keith Stroud to signal he's spotted a shirt tug somewhere as the ball was delivered.

The Millers were making a fast start and just a minute later Ollie Rathbone, who'd shrugged off groin trouble to take his place on the side, fired wide.

The presence of the in-form captain was a big boost to the home side who were looking to bounce straight back from the last-minute midweek reverse at Reading.

On 19 minutes, Viktor Johansson was forced into serious action for the first time, diving to his near post keep out a low effort from Viktor Gyokeres' who had twisted and turned himself into a shooting position following a Coventry breakaway.

Rotherham were looking to keep three successive home clean sheets for the first time since 2018 and it was so far, so good as the half-hour mark came and went with their defence looking strong and the visitors remaining goalless.

At the other end, the Millers were struggling to open up the Sky Blues' backline, although Rathbone wasn't too far away with a thumping volley that was still gathering pace as it hit the South Stand.

On a mild day at New York, neither side were able to establish any dominance and chances continued to be at a premium.

There was a big one for Rotherham, however, three minutes before the break and the unmarked Hugill should have done better than head Rathbone's cross too close to Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

Chiedozie Ogbene had returned to the team after being dropped at Reading and fellow winger Tariqe Fosu was given a rest on the bench, which meant a start for Shane Ferguson.

Grant Hall was in the line-up after the Millers had restricted him to sub duty in the previous game as the centre-half eases himself back into action following a hamstring tear.

Just 65 seconds of the second half had been played when Rotherham fell behind, Jamie Allen having time to take a touch before poking the ball home after being found by Jake Bidwell inside the area.

Taylor's men tried to respond yet it was Coventry who created the next openings.

Johansson had to save when Millers old boy Brooke Norton-Cuffy tried to sneak in a low shot and Gyokeres slid an effort wide as the visitors went the length of the field after Conor Coventry had lost possession during a home attack.

Fosu fired a volley just wide following a succession of corners and at the other end Gyokeres drove off target after doing all the hard work in giving himself a sight of goal.

Rotherham made attacking substitutions in the closing stages in a bid to salvage something from the game but there was to be no comeback.

They hadn't looked like scoring but Gyokeres had and the striker ended home hopes in the first minute of added time with a crisp shot.

A miserable day for Taylor, a worrying one for the Millers.

Rotherham (4-3-3): Viktor Johansson; Lee Peltier (Tom Eaves 78), Grant Hall (Bailey Wright 78), Cameron Humphreys, Cohen Bramall; Ollie Rathbone, Hakeem Odoffin (Tariqe Fosu 54), Conor Coventry; Chiedozie Ogbene, Jordan Hugill (Georgie Kelly 78), Shane Ferguson (Conor Washington 61). Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Leo Hjelde.

Coventry (3-4-2-1): Ben Wilson; Luke McNally, Kyle McFadzean, Callum Doyle; Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Gustavo Hamer, Josh Eccles (Liam Kelly 89), Jake Bidwell; Jamie Allen, Kasey Palmer (Matt Godden 72); Viktor Gyokeres. Subs not used: Simon Moore, Michael Rose, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Tyler Walker, Jack Burroughs.

Goals: Allen 47, Gyokeres 90+1 (Coventry).

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Attendance: 10,865 (2,179).