Millers pay the penalty as hopes are gone with the wind against Vale

Marc Richards’s penalty was enough to give fellow mid-table side Port Vale victory and leave the Millers five points adrift of the play-offs after a second successive home defeat.

Millers chief Andy Scott said: “It was never going to be a classic with the wind, but certainly when you’ve got the wind you want to put the ball in the box and make the defenders make mistakes and cause them problems.

“We got in good areas but we didn’t put enough balls in the box, we tried to be too clever.

“I’m very upset and disappointed. We had the opportunity and we passed it up really.”

The Millers defended against the wind in the first half but started confidently with top scorer Lewis Grabban firing narrowly wide.

The visitors looked dangerous in attack with Robert Taylor going close and Adam Yates forcing a smart save from Rhys Taylor.

The breakthrough came in the 57th minute.

Doug Loft’s attempted centre struck Marshall and dropped back into the path of the Vale left-back. As he reached the ball, Dale Tonge mis-timed his challenge and brought him down and Richards struck home the penalty.

Marshall was replaced by Williams and Griffiths was replaced by Newey before Wood wasted a free-kick on the edge of the area, firing high over the bar.

Johnny Mullins got into the action by denying Williamson at one end before having a shot cleared off the line at the other and Danny Schofield was also inches wide as Vale generally defended solidly.

Rotherham United: Rhys Taylor, Tonge, Raynes, Mullins, Griffiths (Newey 64), Wood (Harrison 76), Marshall (Williams 60), Jason Taylor,Schofield, Revell, Grabban. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Naylor.

Port Vale: Tomlinson, Yates, McDonald, McCombe, Loft, Williamson (Dodds 80), Griffith, Morsy, Taylor (James 85), Richards, Rigg. Unused substitutes: Martin, Roe, Davis.

Referee: D Mohareb (Cheshire).

Man of the match: Marc Richards.