Rotherham United 2 - 0 Coventry City

[dutchman]

Rotherham beat Coventry for first win since August



Second-half goals from Lee Peltier and Ollie Rathbone helped give struggling Rotherham United victory over Coventry City in the Championship.

Defender Peltier glanced in a header in the 51st minute before Rathbone secured only their second win of the season - and first for seven games - with the second in the injury time.

Jordan Hugill also hit the post for the home team, while goalkeeper Viktor Johansson made a number of saves to keep Coventry at bay.

The win moved Matt Taylor's side up one place to 22nd, still five points from safety, while the Sky Blues dropped to 20th after a second away defeat in five days.

After reaching the Championship play-off final last season and then a busy summer of transfer activity, this was not part of Coventry's plan. But despite their poor start, they are only one point worse off than at this stage 12 months ago.

The Sky Blues rued missed chances in losing at Bristol City last Saturday and two good ones came and went in the opening quarter of an hour as Johannsson saved from strike duo Matty Godden and Ellis Simms.

This was the Millers' first game for 18 days following the postponement of their game with Ipswich Town on Friday due to Storm Babet.

However, their on-pitch struggles have been put into context as the club tries to help families and youngsters in the local community affected by the recent flooding.

They had a big chance of their own, only for Fred Onyedinma to head wide from six yards.

However, the strugglers made the breakthrough after the interval thanks to Peltier.

But they were soon indebted to Johansson for preserving that lead with a fabulous stop to keep out Simms' header, before the striker put the rebound into the side-netting.

Godden then put a diving header inches wide before the home side went close to a second through Hugill, while Ben Wilson saved from Rathbone, twice, and Onyedinma.

But Rathbone wrapped things up, firing home after substitute Georgie Kelly chested the ball into his path.

Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"I'm really disappointed. I don't think I've been as disappointed as that for a long time.

"We were OK in the first half but we looked like we needed to take one of the chances. We looked like we needed that confidence boost.

"This division is unforgiving. You play teams who are struggling who can catch you on a set play or a counter-attack.

"But we were masters of our own downfall. We had chances to go on and win the game and put it to bed."