Player ratings and match stats from Burton Albion 1 Rotherham United 0

Millers (3-4-3)

Cameron Dawson 5

Unconvincing. There was some penalty-area flapping and at times he showed a lack of urgency to get play going again when Rotherham were trailing.

Jamal Baptiste: 4

He was doing okay but he suffered when he had to switch from right to left. Never looked the same player again. His worst display in a good while.

Hamish Douglas: NA

Poor lad. Another injury - and it might be a bad one - just when he'd got back into the side.

Zak Jules: 4

With his side and athleticism, he should have been the most commanding player on the pitch. He wasn't. Meandered through the game when he needed to step up.

Brandon Cover: 5

A ragged first start. He can get up and down the flank. Give him time to settle in.

Kian Spence: 5

Misses his midfield partner, Dan Gore. Made a few forays forward but didn't have his usual all-round influence and his set-piece deliveries - which are usually a strength of his game - were off.

Dru Yearwood: 4

Substituted at half-time after doing nothing to press his claims for more game time.

Reece James: 5

Having a dip after recent high standards. Uncharacteristically poor passing from him.

Shaun McWilliams: 4

Had very little impact for the second match in succession. Didn't see much of the ball.

Sam Nombe: 6

Too often he made the wrong decision and didn't find teammates in a better position, but at least he had a go and troubled the opposition with his running.

Harry Gray: 5

The teenager has vision beyond most other players and played a couple of clever passes that would have been better read at a higher level. This was his quietest display since his loan arrival.

The subs

Joe Rafferty (for Douglas 16): 5

Nothing too good, nothing really bad.

Marvin Kaleta (for Yearwood H-T): 5

Just can't stay fit, which is a real shame because he's direct and has the beating of opponents.

Duncan Watmore (for Cover 70): 6

Did more in a 20-plus-minute cameo than some of his teammates managed all game. Good passing as he added a touch of much-needed quality.

Lino Sousa (for Kaleta 85): NA

His first outing in a Millers shirt but wasn't involved for long enough to make his presence felt.

Not used: Ted Cann, Josh Benson, Gabriele Biancheri.

Burton (4-1-3-2): Brad Collins 6; Udoka Godwin-Malife 7, Terence Vancooten 7 (Jasper Moon 82), Alex Hartridge 7, Toby Sibbick 7; George Evans 6; Kyran Lofthouse 5, Kegs Chauke 7, Julian Larsson 5 (Andy Cannon 70); Tyrese Shade 7, Jake Beesley 6. Subs not used: Kamil Dudek, Fabio Tavares, Millar Matthews-Lewis, Kain Adom, Sulyman Krubally.

Goals: Shade 23 (Burton)

Referee: Abigail Byrne (Suffolk)

Attendance: 3,405

Opposition view

“I’ve just told the lads, that’s the best win of the season. You can forget all your fancy wins away at the top teams. That, right there, is the best win.

“Tonight was about trying to execute the basics. We didn’t do enough of that. We knew it was going to be a real hard slog because of the events of last Saturday (a narrow extra-time FA Cup loss against Premier League West Ham United) and that is why tonight is such a big win.”

- Burton boss Gary Bowyer

The stats

Possession: Burton 49 per cent, Miller 51

Goal attempts: Burton 11, Millers 13

On target: Burton 3, Millers 4

Touches in opposition box: Burton 27, Millers 19

Corners: Burton 10, Millers 3

Fouls committed: Burton 12, Millers 7

Final word

A cold, bleak night and a battle with a side close to you in the drop zone. One of those matches where you need to come away with something. The fact that the Millers didn't is a bad sign.