Match ends, MK Dons 0, Rotherham United 4.
Milton Keynes Dons 0-4 Rotherham United
- From the section Football
Rotherham took a huge step towards retaining their Championship status by thrashing relegation rivals MK Dons.
Matt Derbyshire struck in the first minute before Leon Best scored from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Cody Cropper brought down Richard Wood.
The visitors confirmed their dominance through Kirk Broadfoot's header and Richard Smallwood's neat finish.
Rotherham, 21st place in the table, moved nine points clear of MK Dons, who remain third bottom.
The atmosphere inside Stadium MK was tense before kick-off, but almost immediately the Rotherham fans were celebrating as Derbyshire opened the scoring.
Best then slammed home from the spot, and it was no surprise when Broadfoot and Smallwood put the game beyond MK Dons just after the break.
Ex-Miller Alex Revell almost pulled one back for the hosts, but Rotherham easily held on.
Despite languishing in the relegation zone in mid-February, Neil Warnock, Rotherham's third manager of the season, has turned his side's fortunes around, winning six of his 11 league games in charge.
MK Dons manager Karl Robinson:
"It's extremely difficult and very hard and the odds are stacked against us. We only have ourselves to blame.
"You get that tag of losing football matches and it's so hard to shift. You have to find it from somewhere to cope with the demands of this level.
"We were the better team in between the two boxes by far, (but) we are not as good as other teams in the boxes, it's as simple as that.
"I don't think it's fair to boo me individually, I don't agree with that. Collectively we have to take responsibility. "
Rotherham manager Neil Warnock:
"It was an important game but I thought it was a comprehensive victory.
"We started well with the goal and we couldn't have got off to a better start. We missed a few chances in the second half, but we can't get too greedy.
"It just goes to show what you can do with a good group who want to listen.
"I think they are amazing themselves with the ability they have and what they can do with the ball. It's a great time and we are enjoying ourselves."
Line-ups
MK Dons
- 22Cropper
- 21Baldock
- 6KaySubstituted forMaynardat 77'minutes
- 16WalshBooked at 86mins
- 3LewingtonBooked at 55mins
- 44Forster-Caskey
- 8Potter
- 9BowditchSubstituted forBakerat 67'minutes
- 23WilliamsSubstituted forCarruthersat 67'minutes
- 31Murphy
- 18Revell
Substitutes
- 7Baker
- 12Spence
- 14Carruthers
- 17Powell
- 28Maynard
- 29Burns
- 40Long
Rotherham
- 1Camp
- 12KellyBooked at 58mins
- 5BroadfootBooked at 55mins
- 6Wood
- 3Mattock
- 15Halford
- 17Ward
- 8FrecklingtonSubstituted forNewellat 41'minutes
- 33Smallwood
- 27DerbyshireSubstituted forThomasat 78'minutes
- 50BestSubstituted forWardat 56'minutesBooked at 74mins
Substitutes
- 7Thomas
- 9Ward
- 16Richardson
- 19Clarke-Harris
- 22Newell
- 28Facey
- 30Kenny
- Referee:
- Iain Williamson
- Attendance:
- 13,048
Match Stats
Home TeamMK DonsAway TeamRotherham
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away8
- Corners
- Home9
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away17
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, MK Dons 0, Rotherham United 4.
Foul by George Baldock (MK Dons).
Grant Ward (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Kirk Broadfoot.
Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dean Lewington.
Attempt saved. Alex Revell (MK Dons) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Nicky Maynard with a cross.
Offside, Rotherham United. Stephen Kelly tries a through ball, but Joe Newell is caught offside.
Booking
Joe Walsh (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Joe Walsh (MK Dons).
Grant Ward (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Danny Ward (Rotherham United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Richard Smallwood.
Attempt missed. Alex Revell (MK Dons) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Goal!
Goal! MK Dons 0, Rotherham United 4. Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Danny Ward following a corner.
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by George Baldock.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Jerome Thomas replaces Matt Derbyshire.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Nicky Maynard replaces Antony Kay.
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Stephen Kelly.
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Stephen Kelly.
Booking
Danny Ward (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card.
Darren Potter (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joe Newell (Rotherham United).
Jake Forster-Caskey (MK Dons) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box following a corner.
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Lee Camp.
Attempt saved. Jake Forster-Caskey (MK Dons) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Samir Carruthers (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Joe Newell (Rotherham United).
Foul by Darren Potter (MK Dons).
Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Samir Carruthers replaces Jonathan Williams.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Carl Baker replaces Dean Bowditch.
Attempt blocked. Matt Derbyshire (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Jonathan Williams (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt blocked. Joe Newell (Rotherham United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Danny Ward.
Foul by Josh Murphy (MK Dons).
Grant Ward (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jake Forster-Caskey (MK Dons).
Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, MK Dons. Dean Bowditch tries a through ball, but Jonathan Williams is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Danny Ward (Rotherham United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Joe Mattock with a cross.
