Grabban heads home as Patterson demands more ruthless streak

But he was still disappointed that they are not converting chances created by deliveries from set pieces.

“I thought we started excellently and really, in the first 15 minutes, we should have been two or three up,” he said.

“We feel we should be scoring from corners. The deliveries are first class, they’re just begging to be attacked.”

Bulls goalkeeper David Cornell saved well from Ben Pringle and Alex Revell headed over from Lewis Grabban’s cross as the Millers dominated early on.

Just before the break, Grabban was quick off the mark to nip in and head Sam Wood’s cross over Cornell and into the net.

Hereford manager Richard O’Kelly claimed: “At times there were spells when we didn’t have the ball yet we still seemed to be in control of what was happening. But there were times in the first half when we let them dictate the play. It was a scrappy game, but from their point of view it was good pressure, a good ball in and a good little run.”

There was almost a dream return for Ryan Cresswell for Rotherham but he saw one header from a corner deflected wide and another fly inches wide in the early stages.

Pringle also hooked a right-footer just over and miscued a shot from 15 yards before forcing Cornell into a full-length save.

At the other end, Cresswell made a timely intervention ahead of Facey inside the six-yard area.

More chances fell in the Hereford area, with Revell heading over and Mullins, at full stretch, hitting wide.

Hereford had a glimpse of goal when Richard Peniket headed over from a free-kick by Lunt but the Millers responded and Pringle’s 18-yarder was blocked by Townsend.

Taylor and Evans fired over before Wood delivered a centre into the area and Grabban stole in to guide a header over the goalkeeper for what proved the winner.

After the break, Barkhuizen and Colbeck fired over as Rotherham started sluggishly. Bradley also made an important intervention when Featherstone tried to send Peniket clear.

Schofield had a shot blocked and Revell’s effort from outside the area flashed wide.

Revell then headed straight at the goalkeeper before Cadogan replaced Evans and broke away before being crowded out as he ignored the supporting Pringle.

Hereford put on big striker Elder as they sought an equaliser but Rotherham’s defence proved resolute.

Rotherham United: Rhys Taylor, Bradley, Cresswell, Mullins, Wood, Grabban, Jason Taylor, Schofield, Evans (Cadogan 78), Revell, Pringle. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Tonge, Harrison, Hoskins.

Hereford United: Cornell, Green, Townsend, Stam (Anthony 88), Chambers, Colbeck, Lunt, Featherstone (Elder 84), Barkhuizen, Peniket, Facey (Evans 46). Unused substitutes: Bartlett, Purkiss.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Man of the match: Ryan Cresswell.