'We're making it hard for ourselves'

Rotherham United 1Port Vale 2

Rotherham United are now glancing over their shoulders.

This defeat coupled with Bournemouth's win over Bradford means the Millers are five points off third place and those below are closing in.

Today, they are at seventh-placed Aldershot who are only four points behind. Another defeat and Rotherham will not be aiming for the top three but fighting to stay in the play-offs.

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"We only played for the last 15 minutes and if we had gone at it like that from the start then we would have won the game," said Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore. "There have been opportunities for us in the past couple of months but all we have done now is make it harder for ourselves."

Only leaders Rochdale have a better away record than Vale and Rotherham were soon floundering against stubborn defending.

It was all the harder when Vale struck twice in a couple of minutes early in the second half.

Marc Richards cashed in on an error by Pablo Mills to set up an easy goal for Craig Davies and then one-time Barnsley striker Richards pounced following a free-kick.

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Abs Bel-Baggie put extra life into Rotherham and following a foul on him Josh Walker scored with a 25-yard free-kick with 10 minutes to go. Bel-Baggie went close to an equaliser and Gavin Gunning's header from a corner was cleared off the line.

The game marked the return of referee Mark Halsey who was diagnosed with throat cancer at the start of the season and he received a standing ovation.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Lynch, Mills, Sharps, Gunning, Marshall, Harrison, Walker, Law (Bel-Baggie, 65); McAllister (Pope, 60), Le Fondre. Unused substitutes: Annerson, Fenton, Brogan, Ellison, Broughton.

Port Vale: Martin; Collins, McCombe, Owen, K Taylor (Yates, 90); Dodds, Griffith, Fraser (Loft, 88), Rigg; Davies (Haldane, 74), Richards. Unused substitutes: Anyon, Richman, Molyneux, R Taylor.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancs).

Man of the match: Danny Harrison.