Millers suffer more away day blues....

Rotherham United suffered more Sky Bet Championship misery as they slipped to another heavy away defeat at the hands of Norwich City, who are fighting for a play-off place.

Just days after a humbling reversal at Coventry City, it was a case of Groundhog Day for the Millers travelling contingent as David Wagner’s side hit the goal trail at Carrow Road.

The Millers – in a case of déjà vu to the CBS Arena – found themselves chasing the game early on when Gabriel Sara netted for the hosts. Jacob Sorensen and Borja Sainz took the game away from the Millers with further strikes before Josh Sargent added a fourth before the interval.

Sara heaped more woe onto the Millers with a fifth goal just minutes into the second half.

For the trip to Norfolk, Millers Head Coach Leam Richardson rang the changes.

Experienced operator Sean Morrison – who took on the skipper’s armband - was recalled to the heart of the Millers defence.

Seb Revan returned to the fray while Ollie Rathbone and Sam Clucas were part of a new look midfield.

There was also a striking reshuffle with Tom Eaves and Charlie Wyke given a chance to impress in their first start as a front pair.

Midweek starters Jamie Lindsay, Cafu, Jordan Hugill, Sam Nombe and Andy Rinomhota were named on the bench while Shane Ferguson was not part of the squad.

The hosts had the first sight of goal when Marcelino Nunez’s free-kick was headed clear but Sara tried his luck with a left-footed effort which was straight down the throat of Viktor Johansson.

Minutes later, Sara’s pass paved the way for Sam McCallum to deliver a tantalising cross which was inches away from the outstretched foot of Ashley Barnes, who would have had a tap-in before Nunez had a shot blocked at close quarters on the edge of the box.

Norwich were rewarded for commanding the lions’ share of possession and territory in the early stages by claiming the opening goal on 13 minutes.

There looked little danger for the Millers with Jack Stacey being ushered into a cul-de-sac but his cross took a kind deflection off Cameron Humphreys and his centre looped invitingly into the path of an unmarked Sara, who made no mistake to head home from close range.

The Millers were staring down the barrel of more away day blues when Norwich doubled their lead with just 21 minutes on the clock.

Sara turned provider this time with a near-post corner and the Millers were caught napping as Sorensen almost ghosted in unnoticed to glance a header into the far corner of the visitors net.

The Millers were visibly rocked by the double salvo and following some more unconvincing defending, Hakeem Odoffin put in a timely block to deny Sargent.

Wagner’s side were very much in control and the game was as good as over when Norwich added a third goal on the half-hour mark.

Sainz – who had an appeal overturned following his midweek dismissal at Middlesbrough - shrugged off the attentions of Rathbone to advance menacingly towards the Millers box, and with no visiting defender electing to close him down, the Spanish winger punished the visitors to the full with a fierce rising effort which flew into the Millers net giving Johansson no chance.

The Millers were having another bad day at the office and Johansson spared further blushes when he saved at the feet of Sargent, who was clean through on goal, before Odoffin came to the rescue with a last-ditch block to deny the American forward, who looked set to make it four, soon after.

However, Sargent – who has been in a rich vein of form recently – was not to be denied and he rubbed salt into Rotherham wounds by finally finding the scoresheet on the stroke of half time.

The Millers turned over possession far too easily and with Christ Tiehi out of the game with a knock, Wagner’s side turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye, and Stacey delivered a lovely centre and Sargent made no mistake to stroke a left-footed effort into the corner of the visitors’ net.   

Half-time: Norwich City 4 Rotherham United 0  

The rampant hosts started the second 45 as they finished the first when they added a fifth goal just minutes into the half.

Sargent got a yard on Morrison to dart into the Millers box before stinging the palms of Johansson with a powerful effort but the danger was not cleared, and Sara executed a classy left-footed strike – from just outside of the area - which whistled into the top far corner of the net.   

Nunez fired just wide from distance before Richardson made a triple change just before the hour mark.

In a rare Rotherham foray, Hugill headed over from Revan’s cross before Liam Gibbs became the first to see yellow for hauling down Arvin Appiah in full flow.

With the result never in doubt, the game meandered to a tame conclusion with little to report in the latter stages.

Full-time: Norwich City 5 Rotherham United 0

Norwich City 5

Rotherham United 0

Teams: Norwich- Gunn, Stacey, Gibson (Batth 46), Sainz, Sargent (Van Hooijdonk 51), Barnes (Aboh 81), McCallum, Sara, Sorensen, McLean (Fassnacht 51), Nunez (Gibbs 68). Unused- Long, Hanley, Fisher, Welch.

Rotherham- Johansson, Eaves (Hugill 58), Rathbone (Nombe 58), Clucas (Lindsay 85), Tiehi, Kioso, Revan, Morrison (Appiah 58), Humphreys, Odoffin, Wyke (Rinomhota 46). Unused- Phillips, Seriki, Cafu.

Referee- C Breakspear

Attendance- 26111 (226)