AFC Wimbledon 0 Rotherham United 1: Agard ensures Millers receive rightful reward

Rotherham United substitute Kieran Agard headed home the only goal of the game as the Millers returned to winning ways at AFC Wimbledon.

Wimbledon had the better of the first half with Steven Gregory heading into the side netting and Will Antwi almost bundling over Stacy Long’s corner.

Rotherham striker Daniel Nardiello went close when firing wide following goalkeeper Neil Sullivan’s weak punch.

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But Agard won it after his header hit a post and bounced in off Sullivan.

Millers manager Steve Evans said that he was always confident his side would come out on top.

But he added that his players had to work very hard to achieve it.

Evans felt the home team had a slight edge in the first half, but was pleased to see the Millers take charge after the interval.

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He said: “I was very satisfied with the second period as we dominated that from the start to the finish.

“We missed some good chances and should have won comfortably, but the important thing was that we got the three points that was on offer. Considering the other results, it was a positive day for us all round.”

With 12 minutes to go Rotherham got the goal their pressure deserved.

A quick free-kick sent Courtney Cameron up the left. His centre found Agard near the edge of the area who sent a header towards the target.

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With Nardiello closing in, the ball bounced across Sullivan and then hit the far post and appeared to go in off the goalkeeper’s arm.

Dale Tonge and David Noble returned to full training yesterday and Scott Shearer – left out on Saturday as a precaution with a bruised elbow – will be back in training today.

Next up for Rotherham is tomorrow’s re-arranged FA Cup second-round replay away to Notts County.

AFC Wimbledon: Sullivan, Osano, Mambo, Antwi, Fenlon, Ajala, Gregory, Luke Moore (Balkestein 81), Long (Djilali 84), Midson, Meades. Unused substitutes: Jaimez-Ruiz, Mitchel-King, Cummings, Johnson, Hervel.

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Rotherham United: Warrington, Mullins, Arnason, Sharps, Ridehalgh, Pringle (Cameron 55), Taylor, O’Connor (Agard 70), Frecklington, Nardiello (Odejayi 85), Revell. Unused substitutes: Thompson, Bradley, Walker, O’Connell.

Referee: David Phillips (West Sussex).

Man of the match: Kieran Agard.