"You can run away or you can stand up" ... Rotherham United boss Matt Taylor on a day when his team stood up

Conor Washington completes the scoring in add time. Picture by Dave Poucher

The Millers went into this afternoon's clash against third-placed opposition having won only once in their previous 13 games and hovering only a point above the drop zone.

But they produced a stirring display that earned a standing ovation from the AESSEAL New York Stadium crowd after goals from Hakeem Odoffin, Ollie Rathbone, Shane Ferguson and Conor Washington has wrapped up an emphatic triumph.

"You can run away and hide and make excuses or you can stand up to it and put your best foot forward," Taylor said. "That was the way we went about our business today.

"We have been lower than a snake’s belly, but there was intent, we were up in Blackburn's faces and there was great execution in the quality of the goals."

The win in the lunch-time kick-off lifted Rotherham to 19th place ahead of the 3pm programme of second-tier fixtures.

New boys Sean Morrison and Leo Hjelde made accomplished debuts in defence as the Millers switched from their usual 3-5-2 formation to 4-3-3.

When asked what had led to such a turnaround in form, the manager said: “There has been honesty from myself, the players and the staff. Also, we have brought some players in and changed the shape."

“We have simplified our approach, which seemed to help the players. We have generally kept a good team at arm’s length.

“The message to the players before the game was, we were in a 20-game season now and we’re in the fight of our lives."

Odoffin opened the scoring after just 34 seconds and Rathbone, Ferguson and Washington struck after the break.

The heavy reverse was a blow for promotion-chasing Blackburn head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, who bemoaned his side's inconsistency.

He said: “It’s a disappointing result and a poor performance. We talked about starting the game well and then conceded in the first minute.

“We had three big opportunities to get back in the game in the first half. They are probably the three best chances in the game. You need to take those chances.

“We need to apologise to our fans because it was a poor performance."