Millers on message

RICHIE BARKER felt Rotherham had sent a clear message to fellow Championship strugglers with this convincing win.

“I told the players there will be a few clubs looking at our result today and wondering how on earth it happened,” said the Millers assistant.

“They will be worried. We have a lot of games in hand and only time will tell whether that is a good thing.

“But the training ground will be a happy place until we play again at Easter and we can build on this.”

The visitors took the lead when Robins keeper Dan Bentley left his line to gather a Wes Harding cross from the right and was beaten by Michael Smith’s flicked header.

It was Bentley’s second gaffe in successive home games, having conceded a poor goal against QPR.

The result was put beyond doubt when Rotherham skipper Richard Wood (above) headed in from Dan Barlaser’s 74th-minute corner. Now the Millers are just three points behind fourthfrom-bottom Birmingham City, having played four fewer games.

Barker’s pleasure was matched by Nigel Pearson’s frustration as City slumped to a sixth successive home defeat. He is being strongly linked with a move to sign defender Danny Simpson, who was with him at Leicester, but said: “If there is an announcement, it will be made at the appropriate time time.” BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 5, Hunt 6 (Pearson 79, 6), Mariappa 6, Kalas 6 (Vyner 28, 6), Sessegnon 6, Massengo 6 (Bell 78, 6), Walsh 8, Wells 6, Palmer 6 (Lansbury 60, 6), O’Dowda 7, Diedhiou 5 (Semenyo 60, 6). Unused subs: O’Leary, Nagy, Bakinson, Towler. ROTHERHAM: Johansson 7, Ihiekwe 7, Wood 8, A Macdonald 7, Harding 7, Wing 7 (Clarke 88), Barlaser 7 (S Macdonald 87), Crooks 8, Giles 6 (Olosunde 65, 6), Ladapo 6 (Jozefzoon 75, 6), Smith 7 (Hirst 87). Unused subs: Blackman, Wiles, Sadlier. MAN OF THE MATCH: Richard Wood. The Rotherham captain was sound in defence and scored a vital goal. REFEREE: Matthew Donahue.