SMITH JUST TWO GOOD
Millers ace takes the Michael
PAUL WARNE admitted he almost ‘threw up a kidney’ as Rotherham rode their luck to return to the top of the league.
Two goals from top scorer Michael Smith helped them edge past dogged Bolton – who should have snatched a stoppage-time point through Oladapo Afolayan.
The Millers leapfrogged Sunderland to return to the summit with a fivepoint cushion on third, and a relieved Warne (right) said: “We feel like we got away with one.
“Our game management in the final 10 minutes wasn’t great, it was suicide soccer at times and they had two unbelievable chances to equalise when to be honest I almost threw up a kidney,” he said.
“Overall, we were good value for the win but with only a single-goal lead, you’re always vulnerable.
“It’s nice to be back at the top. We’ve got used to being there, so it’s good to reclaim the summit, but I’ve told the lads we’re there to be shot at.”
New signing Dion Charles watched from the stands after sealing a move from Accrington as Bolton looked the sharper early on in their first game for three weeks, with Millers skipper Richard Wood lucky not to deflect Declan John’s shot into his own net as the ball bounced inches wide.
In a fiery contest, Ian Evatt was booked for his protests when referee Geoff Eltringham failed to penalise Rarmani Edmonds-green for felling Afolayan with a crude challenge outside the Millers’ box as the forward sped through on goal.
Rotherham finally broke the deadlock five minutes before the break when Smith underlined his aerial threat by heading home a Shane Ferguson cross. Bolton were level within two minutes thanks to their first league goal on the road in seven games.
Keeper Viktor Johansson was to blame as he let the ball squirm under him after Eoin Doyle was given time to turn and shoot from a George Johnston’s cross to get his eighth of the term.
Smith restored the lead with another header 16 minutes from the end.