Millers’ failure to score heightens importance of managerial appointment

The search for a new manager will have intensified after a heavy defeat at promotion-chasing Crawley.

Darren Patterson’s interim stewardship suffered its first setback as goals from Billy Clarke, Gary Alexander and former Millers player Pablo Mills sunk Rotherham.

“Obviously we’re very disappointed with the result,” said Patterson.

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“First half we should have been three or four, possibly more in front.

“We absolutely battered them but we couldn’t convert our chances and were done with a sucker punch.

“I’m a little disappointed with the way we conceded our second goal, which was a little sloppy. We came here to win, not to draw, so we gambled a little, putting three centre forwards on, and we created chances, we just couldn’t convert any.

“It’s not just the strikers, we’re all responsible for getting the goals and we want to be scoring from other areas.”

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Michael Raynes went close twice early on before Mark Bradley released Alex Revell who spurned a golden chance to give the Millers the lead as he spooned his attempted chip wide.

Gareth Evans also went close to the opener before Rotherham were punished for their profligacy when Clarke slid in to convert Sergio Torres’s cross.

After dominating the first half, Rotherham buckled in the second as Jason Taylor brought down Dannie Bulman and Alexander converted the penalty.

Kyle McFadzean nearly put the game out of reach with a fine header before Mills did just that, sneaking in front of Revell to send a stooping header beyond Rhys Taylor. Sam Hoskins went closest to a response for the Millers but he snatched at his late opportunity.

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Crawley Town: Kuipers, Simpson, Mills, McFadzean, Howell, Davies, Bulman, Akpan, Torres (Cummings 79), Alexander (Batt 87), B Clarke (Watt 83). Unused substitutes: Shearer, Dempster.

Rotherham: R Taylor, Bradley, Mullins, Raynes (Cresswell 90), Wood, Cadogan (Hoskins 60), Schofield, J Taylor, Evans (Grabban 60), Pringle, Revell. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Harrison.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).

Man of the match: Dannie Bulman.