WIN EDGES THE MILLERS CLOSER
ROTHERHAM manager Paul Warne insists he will take points over performances at the business end of the season.
The Millers finally wrapped up the victory at new York Stadium thanks to Richard Wood’s winner 13 minutes from time as they moved a step nearer to confirming their play-off place.
The Yorkshiremen had been pushed all the way with the Cod Army taking a fifth-minute lead through Ashley Eastham, before also levelling at 2-2 thanks to Cian Bolger.
But Wood finally won a topsyturvy encounter, which also saw Fleetwood skipper Nathan Pond fire into his own net and Joe Newell score for Rotherham.
A delighted Warne said: “I thought we played really well and deserved the win.
“We could have got more goals but I’m very pleased. What I am well are of with six games to go before that match was that it is about picking up the points and not performances.
“I think we played well against an excellent Fleetwood side who haven’t conceded in five games.
“I have got a great group and they believe in what we are trying to teach them.
“Everyone really wants to get into the play-offs and this win helps us get a bit nearer.”
Fleetwood boss John Sheridan, meanwhile, said his side had paid the price for a poor display.
“We are disappointed, but I’m not going to be too hard on the players,” he said.
“We did not play well but we could have got a point from the game. We looked a bit flat and I would like us to have a bit more belief, especially with the start that we had.
“We did not really play on the front foot enough and did not get going.
“We gave away too many silly free-kicks and put ourselves under pressure.”
Eastham gave Fleetwood a dream start when he poked home after his initial header had been saved by Marek Rodak.
But Rotherham levelled when Pond sliced Newell’s cross into his own net. Smith fired over ten minutes later after taking David Ball’s knockdown into his stride.
Smith then headed Anthony Forde’s cross over the bar two minutes after the break.
But the growing pressure finally paid off when Newell volleyed home a beauty from the edge of the box from Forde’s 51stminute corner.
However the Cod Army were level when Bolger superbly headed home from Ashley Hunter’s free-kick three minutes later.
Rotherham refused to be beaten and they hit the front once again when Wood scrambled home Newell’s perfect free-kick. And Rodak made the points safe with a superb save to deny Wes Burns.