Rotherham United 1 Cardiff 2: Unlucky Millers will not start to feel sorry for themselves '“ Alan Stubbs

Rotherham manager Alan Stubbs said his players must keep working hard to turn things around as they sit just a point above bottom club Wigan.
Millers manager Alan Stubbs.Millers manager Alan Stubbs.
Millers manager Alan Stubbs.

“This is a tough one to take because we deserved more from the game than what we got,” he said of the home defeat to Cardiff.

“I can’t fault the players’ effort and desire because they are not getting the rewards that they deserve.

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“We cannot afford to feel sorry for ourselves, the second goal sums up the bad luck we are having.

“Realistically, we should be sitting on 12 to 13 points. We have to keep working hard and doing the work on the training ground.”

Counterpart Paul Trollope was full of praise for Rickie Lambert after the former England star’s brace helped the Bluebirds climb out of the relegation places after dramatically coming from behind to secure their first league away win of the campaign.

Rotherham had hit the front on the hour mark after Chelsea loan man Izzy Brown scored from Greg Halford’s long throw.

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The Millers appeared to be cruising to three points following a dominant opening 70 minutes.

But the Welshmen finally sprang into life when Lambert headed Peter Whittingham’s cross home on 74 minutes.

The comeback was complete five minutes later when Lambert’s shot deflected past Lee Camp.

A delighted Trollope said: “Rickie Lambert has got the respect of the dressing because of what he has done in his career.

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“He has a real hunger to play for the club and we are delighted he has got off the mark. He is a real leader of men and we are really pleased with his contribution and his link up play. We have to get things correct around him to maximise his ability.

Rotherham united: Camp, Fisher, Fry, Kelvin Wilson, Mattock, Taylor, Frecklington, Halford, Newell (Blackstock 82), Brown, Ward. Unused substitutes: Vaulks, Forde, Forster-Caskey, Price, Ball, Yates.

Cardiff City: Amos, Peltier (Ecuele Manga 88), Morrison, Connolly, Richards, O’Keefe, Noone, Immers, Whittingham, Ralls (Harris 70), Lambert. Unused substitutes: John, Kennedy, Huws, Zohore, Wilson.

Referee: D Coote (Nottinghamshire).

Man of the match: Rickie Lambert.