'My lads performed to their limits' - Paul Warne unsure how Rotherham United lost at Bristol City

It had been 72 minutes of frustration for the Robins, whose fans were chanting against boss Lee Johnson, but Milan Djuric chose a good time to score his first goal for the club as his second-half winner gave them a first victory since early December.

The three points ease the pressure on Johnson and move his side five points above the relegation zone.

That is where Rotherham are rooted after yet another away defeat and they are on a fast-track to League One after another game of missed opportunities.

They slumped to a 15th away defeat of the season and are 15 points adrift of safety.

Paul Warne said: "I don't think there was anything between the two sides, we set up 4-1-4-1 initially and I thought we contained them quite well.

"As a group I thought my lads performed to their limits. I don't know how much more I can ask of them physically.

"It was a tight game, neither of us were great attacking forces but they didn't create a great deal. He made a triple substitution because he needed to change it and that was the difference, we just came off the on the wrong side of it again.

"People will think it's the same old story but I don't think we deserved to lose. I think a point would have been a fair result."

Warne's side were the perfect opposition for City to try and regain that winning touch against as the Millers' solitary point on the road came in October.

And the hosts made a promising start as Tammy Abraham missed a golden opportunity in the 14th minute. After Rotherham failed to clear the ball, the on-loan Chelsea man found himself unmarked 12 yards out but his low effort went the wrong side of the post.

But the Robins' problems are just as clear to see and it was Rotherham that bossed the rest of the first half.

Star striker Danny Ward could have put them ahead but he flashed Joe Newell's cross just wide in the 18th minute, while they came within inches of scoring just before half-time when home defender Mark Little turned Anthony Forde's cross past a post.

The second half did not start much better for the lacklustre Robins until they fashioned another great chance for Abraham just before the hour, but his header from Joe Bryan's cross was superbly clawed away by Richard O'Donnell, who was returning to his former club.

Boss Johnson was not happy with what he was seeing and made a triple change but he angered home fans, who reacted with boos and chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' when Abraham was withdrawn.

As it turned out he knew exactly what he was doing as his substitutes changed the game, with two of them combining for the decisive moment in the 73rd minute.

Jamie Paterson's thunderous shot was too hot for O'Donnell to handle and he could only palm it into the path of Djuric, who headed home from six yards.

Rotherham have only claimed two points from a losing position in their horror season so there was no way back for them, and City were able to breathe a sigh of relief after they finally ended their drought.