Millers slump to heavy loss.....

Rotherham United’s Sky Bet Championship season went from bad to worse following a heavy defeat at play-off chasing Coventry City.

The Millers went into the game at the CBS Arena with only one recognised centre-half and a number of players operating out of position, but a rare error from Viktor Johansson, in the early minutes, set the tone for a sorry evening.

Ellis Simms – who had notched a hat-trick in the FA Cup last week – repeated the feat in the first half. Joel Latibeaudiere and sub Fabio Tavares also found the scoresheet for the hosts. 

The Millers made the worst possible start when Coventry opened the scoring with their first real attack of note.

There looked little danger for the visitors when Jake Bidwell hung up an innocuous cross from the left-flank and Johansson, uncharacteristically, spilled the ball under no pressure from a Coventry attacker, and with Cameron Humphreys in no position to spare his blushes, Simms had the simple task of nodding home into the unguarded net from close range.

Johansson was quick to acknowledge his error between the sticks by apologetically holding up his hand while Simms led the home celebrations.

The Millers initially responded positively to the early setback and after Jamie Lindsay was fouled, Cafu smashed a free-kick which was deflected over his own bar by Haji Wright before Christ Tiehi delivered a dangerous centre which narrowly evaded a number of Rotherham runners, including Hakeem Odoffin, who would have had a tap-in, if he had made a telling connection.

Both sides traded chances when Victor Torp struck a free-kick against the Rotherham wall before Cafu burst down the wing before planting a cross which Liam Kitching was forced to turn behind his own goal at the other end.

The Millers were staring down the barrel of another away defeat when Coventry doubled their lead soon after.

The visitors had a warning when Sky Blues skipper Liam Kelly had a fierce shot from the edge of the box which was deflected behind.

However, Rotherham failed to heed it from the resultant set play when Bidwell swung an in swinging corner into the danger area and Latibeaudiere rose unchallenged to power a header into the heart of the Millers goal from close range.

The home side were going for the jugular and the game was as good as over before the half-hour mark when Coventry added a third.

Wright injected pace into a Sky Blues move and Andy Rinomhota, in an attempt to clear the danger, could only divert the ball into the path of Simms, who struck a first-time left-footed effort, which Johansson got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out.

The Millers made a substitution when Shane Ferguson was replaced by Seb Revan.

However, Rotherham’s evening took another turn for the worst when Coventry notched a fourth goal with Simms claiming the match ball.  

Bidwell was again the architect with a left-wing cross and Odoffin failed to snuff out the danger on the edge of the box under pressure from Wright and Simms punished him to the full by firing home.  

Half-time: Coventry City 4 Rotherham United 0

The Millers made a further substitution at the interval with Arvin Appiah entering the fray.

The visitors had a rare sight of goal when Peter Kioso let fly with an effort which whistled over the Coventry bar.

Rotherham frustration boiled over when Jordan Hugill – who was skipper for the evening – was cautioned for a hefty aerial challenge on Latibeaudiere.

The Sky Blues made a triple change and two of the substitutes combined almost immediately when Milan van Ewijk headed over from Matty Godden’s centre.

The third replacement, Callum O’Hare volleyed over from the edge of the box minutes later.

The Millers were giving a better account of themselves, albeit in a low key second 45.

Tiehi drilled a cross which stung the palms of Brad Collins in the home goal before Kioso almost latched onto sub Charlie Wyke’s centre but Latibeaudiere snuffed out the threat at the near post.

The Millers duo combined again when Wyke’s clever lay off presented Kioso with the chance to strike but this time, Bobby Thomas diverted the ball away from goal.

Minutes later, sub Sam Clucas swung a corner into the Coventry box, but Odoffin could not get a clean header and his scuffed effort looped harmlessly over.  

Coventry had a late flurry when Godden powered a point-blank header goalwards but Johansson stood up tall to block his effort at close quarters before O’Hare fired wide on the follow-up.

It was fitting that the Sky Blues had the final say when Tavares kept his nerve to pick his spot, for the home side's fifth goal of the evening, in stoppage time.  

Full-time: Coventry City 5 Rotherham United 0   

Coventry City 5

Rotherham United 0

Teams: Coventry- Collins, Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell, Kelly, Eccles (Van Ewijk 59), Torp (Andrews , Wright (Godden 59), Simms (Tavares 82), Palmer (O’Hare 59). Unused- Wilson, Binks, Dasilva, Lusala.  

Rotherham- Johansson, Cafu, Hugill (Wyke 71), Rinomhota (Clucas 71), Lindsay, Ferguson (Revan 35), Odoffin, Humphreys, Tiehi, Nombe (Appiah 46), Kioso (Seriki 83). Unused- Phillips, Eaves, Rathbone.

Referee- J Busby

Attendance- 22092