More travel sickness for the Millers ... on-the-whistle report: Cardiff City 2 Rotherham United 0

The boss was forced to watch proceedings from the directors' box because of a one-match touchline ban and was hoping the Millers were on course for their first point on the road as they handled the threat of the seventh-placed Bluebirds.

However, a momentary defensive lapse allowed the home outfit to claim a 56th-minute goal that set them on the way to victory.

Cohen Bramall let Kion Etete get on the inside of him at the back post and the striker headed home the contest's opener.

Perry Ng rubbed salt in Rotherham's wounds by rounding off the win in the dying stages when he drilled in a low shot.

The Millers' makeshift defence did well in the early stages as the home side forced corners and free-kicks and there had been no real sight of goal for either team as the half-hour mark approached.

Etete let fly from 20 yards on 29 minutes but the save was a comfortable one for Viktor Johansson.

Taylor's men were offering little in attack against opponents who had won five of their previous six league outings but the boss will have been pleased with how they were keeping the Bluebirds at bay.

Just before the break, Jordan Hugill gave up possession too easily and Johansson came to the rescue as Cardiff broke forward by keeping out Ryan Wintle's low effort at his near post.

Injury-hit Rotherham were missing seven potential first-teamers and once again were two players short on their bench.

Midfielder Cafu and centre-half Grant Hall had travelled with the squad but weren't quite ready to return after hamstring injuries.

The Millers had only one fit senior central defender in Tyler Blackett and he was in a three-man backline with Dexter Lembikisa and Bramall either side of him.

Rotherham fell behind as Etete outmuscled his marker who appealed in vain for a foul, then Dimitros Goutas flashed a header just wide four minutes later while at the other end Rathbone had a shot deflected off target by Mark McGuinness.

The Millers really needed that attempt to go in as further opportunities were likely to be hard to come by.

Ollie Tanner was a whisker away from a Bluebirds second before substitute Arvin Appiah sent an 80th-minute curling effort just over the bar for the visitors.

Rotherham managed a couple of late corners in a late bid for an equaliser before Ng pounced and then Appiah hit the bar with a stoppage-time free-kick.

Taylor headed down to the dressing room at the final whistle with the Millers' record on their league travels standing at played five, lost five.

Cardiff (4-3-3): Jak Alnwick; Perry Ng, Dimitrios Goutas, Mark McGuinness, Jamilu Collins; Ryan Wintle, Manolis Siopis (Ebou Adams 87), Joe Ralls (Callum Robinson 79); Yakou Meite (Ollie Tanner 18), Kion Etete, Karlan Grant (Ike Ugbo 87). Subs not used: Alex Runarsson, Mahlon Romeo, Romaine Sawyers, Jonathan Panzo, Rubin Colwill.

Rotherham (3-5-1-1): Viktor Johansson; Dexter Lembikisa, Tyler Blackett, Cohen Bramall; Fred Onyedinma, Ollie Rathbone, Christ Tiehi, Sam Clucas (Lee Peltier 72), Sebastian Revan (Arvin Appiah 72); Andre Green (Georgie Kelly 87); Jordan Hugill (Sam Nombe 67). Subs not used: Dillon Phillips, Tom Eaves, Ciaran McGuckin.

Goals: Etete 56, Ng 90 (Cardiff).

Referee: Leigh Doughty (Lancashire).

Attendance: 20,136.