Match ends, Rotherham United 1, Fulham 3.
RotherhamRotherham United1FulhamFulham3
Ben Pringle scored against his old club as Fulham claimed their first league victory of the season against bottom of the table Rotherham.
Pringle put the visitors 1-0 up when he tapped in from close range.
Ross McCormack soon doubled Fulham's lead from the penalty spot following Greg Halford's foul on James Husband.
Rotherham's Matt Derbyshire missed a penalty before Jonson Clarke-Harris reduced the deficit but Cauley Woodrow sealed the win for the away side.
Before the start of play the two teams sat in 24th and 23rd place in the league respectively but the Cottagers certainly did not look like a team languishing in second-bottom position as they took an early lead through Pringle's first goal for the club.
Fulham continued on the offensive and were only denied a second goal through the excellent work of home keeper Adam Collin, who reacted well to deny McCormack's driven effort.
Scotland international McCormack was not to be denied for too long though, as he soon scored his third goal in five days from the penalty spot after Greg Halford clumsily brought down James Husband.
Rotherham had a great chance to get back in the game midway through the second half as Paul Green was brought down in the area by Jazz Richards. However, Matt Derbyshire's resulting penalty was expertly saved by Andy Lonergan.
The home side soon recovered from the disappointment of the penalty miss to halve the deficit as Clarke-Harris's low drive beat Lonergan from 20 yards but Fulham substitute Woodrow swept in Jamie O'Hara's cross in injury time to seal the three points and compound Rotherham to a fourth league defeat of the season.
Fulham manager Kit Symons:
"It was important we came and put in a decent performance and got three points on the board.
"We made it hard work for ourselves conceding a penalty and giving away a stupid goal but overall I'm very pleased with the performance.
"I was delighted for Ben (Pringle). He's a bit of a crowd favourite here as well that's why I took him off with a minute or so to go so he could get the recognition I think he deserves from the Rotherham fans.
"He's one of the unsung heroes. He works his socks off the team but he's got good qualities. It was nice for him to pop up with the goal."
Rotherham manager Steve Evans:
"We created two or three good chances in the first half and didn't take them. We huffed and puffed in the second half.
"It's evident after the games we've played that there's a lot of work that needs to be done. We have to get back on the training ground and work hard and try and add a body or two.
"If I was a fan I wouldn't be happy losing 3-1 at home to Fulham."
Line-ups
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Collin
- 2Buxton
- 15Halford
- 4Collins
- 16RichardsonSubstituted forLedesmaat 54'minutes
- 7MaguireBooked at 30minsSubstituted forWhiteat 45'minutes
- 11Green
- 33Smallwood
- 22NewellSubstituted forWardat 45'minutes
- 19Clarke-Harris
- 27Derbyshire
Substitutes
- 1Roos
- 9Ward
- 10Ledesma
- 14White
- 17Ward
- 20Rawson
- 23Thorpe
Fulham
Formation 4-4-2
- 24Lonergan
- 2Richards
- 13Ream
- 33Burn
- 40Husband
- 10Cairney
- 19Tunnicliffe
- 23O'Hara
- 18PringleSubstituted forKacaniklicat 90+6'minutes
- 44McCormackBooked at 76minsSubstituted forChristensenat 82'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 25DembeleSubstituted forWoodrowat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Hutchinson
- 11Kacaniklic
- 12Lewis
- 14Mattila
- 15Voser
- 16Woodrow
- 21Christensen
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 8,839
Match Stats
Home TeamRotherhamAway TeamFulham
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home2
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rotherham United 1, Fulham 3.
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Alexander Kacaniklic replaces Ben Pringle.
Goal!
Goal! Rotherham United 1, Fulham 3. Cauley Woodrow (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jamie O'Hara.
Post update
Jazz Richards (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Matt Derbyshire (Rotherham United).
Post update
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Richard Smallwood.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Cairney (Fulham) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Pringle.
Post update
Attempt saved. James Husband (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie O'Hara.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Collin.
Booking
Lasse Vigen Christensen (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Lasse Vigen Christensen (Fulham).
Post update
Aidan White (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Danny Collins.
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Lasse Vigen Christensen replaces Ross McCormack.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matt Derbyshire (Rotherham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jonson Clarke-Harris with a headed pass.
Post update
Offside, Fulham. James Husband tries a through ball, but Cauley Woodrow is caught offside.
Post update
Tom Cairney (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Emmanuel Ledesma (Rotherham United).
Booking
Ross McCormack (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
