Paul Warne's praise for magic Michael Smith as Millers secure vital triumph

Smith scored the opening goal and gave the Forest defence a torrid afternoon at AESSEAL New York Stadium as the third-from-bottom Millers kept Millwall in their sights and made significant gains on Reading and Wigan Athletic in th fight to stay up.

"Smudge has come on no end," Warne said. "People who come and watch and don't think he's a good player obviously don't understand football."

Rotherham put behind them last week's 6-1 defeat at Derby County, where Smith and several other key men were, and goals from the striker and centre-half Michael Ihiekwe were enough to see off Martin O'Neill's play-off contenders.

"It is no surprise that when our best players are here, we're a better team," Warne said. "Smudge played well and he was one of many. I thought there were some good performances.​

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"It was quite an open game and edgy at times for both teams. There wasn't a great deal of quality in the first half. I thought we played a lot better in the second and I am pleased with the win.​

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"I am exhausted but over the moon. We rode our luck initially but I just had a funny feeling that it might be our day."