Rochdale 4 Rotherham United 0: Millers left to regroup as leaders Rochdale go clear

THREE goals in 10 minutes midway through the second half left Rotherham well-beaten by the League Two leaders.

Up until Rochdale's second goal just after the hour the game had been been pretty even and the game was certainly in the balance. However, an unfortunate own goal when a clearance rebounded in off Jamie Green set up the home side for a comfortable win.

They now have an 11-point gap between themselves and the team in fourth, while Rotherham will simply have to regroup.

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The man who did the damage overall was former Rotherham striker Chris O'Grady and it was he who set up the opening goal after just nine minutes, when his low centre from the right was finished off by Chris Dagnall.

Rotherham responded well with Kevin Ellison firing wide and Tom Cope having a header punched away.

Then midfielder Josh Walker struck a 30-yarder which Frank Fielding only just kept out.

Then Rotherham went close when former Rochdale favourite Adam Le Fondre saw his header cleared off the line by Will Atkinson.

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Then came the crucial second goal when O'Grady's centre saw Gavin Gunning attempt to clear but the ball struck Green and rebounded into the net.

On 71 minutes it was all over when defender Craig Dawson headed home from a corner by Tom Kennedy and O'Grady wrapped things up after 74 minutes with a solo effort.

Rochdale: Fielding; Dawson (Flynn 80), McArdle, Stanton, T Kennedy; J Kennedy, Jones, Toner, Atkinson; Dagnall, O'Grady. Unused Substitutes: Arthur, Haworth, Higginbotham, Obadeyi, Holness, Thompson.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Lynch, Sharps (Green 22), Fenton, Gunning; Law, Walker, Harrison, Ellison (Marshall 66); Pope (Taylor 66), Le Fondre. Unused Substitutes: Annerson, Joseph, Mills, Cummins.

Referee: Mr S Tanner (Gloucs).