Yet Moore magic as Millers are sparkling

PAUL Warne watched his rampant Rotherham record their third win on the spin and labelled the victory the “most satisfying” on home soil this season.

The free-scoring Millers have bagged 21 league goals at the New York Stadium already – an impressive haul that has played a pivotal role in cementing the club’s early play-off position.

Will Vaulks’ wonder strike broke the deadlock in the first half before striker Kieffer Moore sealed the points late on.

“From all the home wins we have had, this is the most satisfying,” said Warne. “We have played some good teams here but I think Scunthorpe are the best side we have played. We knew they were going to cause us problems and they are going to be up there come the end of the season.

“The first goal was massive. They could have scored and the game could have taken a different tilt but we did what we keep doing at home, and we must keep it going if we can.”

Anthony Forde went closest for the hosts in the opening half-hour when his dipping effort was palmed away by Matt Gilks.

The Iron weathered the early storm and at the other end, Funso Ojo’s long-range effort was deflected narrowly wide before Paddy Madden’s diving header was expertly stopped by Richard O’Donnell.

But the Millers kept pressing and their endeavour was rewarded on 37 minutes as Vaulks took a touch from a corner before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner from 25 yards.

The visitors had two successive chances to draw level after the break. Firstly, O’Donnell got a hand to a Morris effort before the goalkeeper bounced back to his feet and somehow tipped Conor Townsend’s follow-up onto the post.

But Rotherham were more clinical and doubled their lead on 71 minutes. Strike partners David Ball and Moore combined neatly before the latter gobbled up the easiest of close-range chances. Scunthorpe boss Graham Alexander said: “We certainly did not deserve to lose.

“If you take away the two goals scored by them, we were by far the better team – I’m devastated to have lost.

“I can only be very proud of the players and the way they committed themselves to playing the way we want to play.

“We got the ball down and played some incisive football. We have created a host of good chances and converting them is the difference between winning and losing matches.”