At the end, they were the team finishing strongest, pushing Brentford on the back foot in the final half hour and if any team was going to take all three points it was Rotherham.

"I was really pleased how the lads stuck at it and how well they finished the game," said Rotherham manager Mark Robins.

"It was very, very hot, we'd had a long, tiring journey the day before, there was the game against Wolves to take into account and it was an awful pitch.

"But we never let all this affect us and I thought we looked the side likeliest to win all the way through, not just towards the end," added Robins.

It was a game of much effort and endeavour but very few clear-cut chances.

Rotherham's best was midway through the first half when Reuben Reid put Drewe Broughton clear but he took too long shooting and was blocked.

Pablo Mills volleyed wide following a free-kick and Ian Sharps had a goal-bound effort from close range blocked by Marcus Bean and Mark Hudson could not untangle his feet 10 yards out as Rotherham stepped up the bid for a fourth straight league win.

Brentford, who faded after a lively start, carved just one clear opportunity. It came close to half-time when Adam Newton's cross found Nathan Elder unmarked 10 yards out but he headed wide.

Brentford: Hamer; Newton, Wilson, Bennett, Johnson; Williams (Ademola 73), Bean, Pead, Poole (Dickson 73); Macdonald, Elder. Unused substitutes: Brown, O'Connor, Phillips.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Lynch, Sharps, Fenton, Nicholas; Harrison, Mills, Hudson; Reid, Broughton (Taylor 55), Rhodes (Burchill 83). Unused substitutes: Cann, Green, Cummins.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).

Man of the match: Ian Sharps.