Rotherham United manager Matt Taylor credited Cardiff City for their physicality in the final third as the visitors prevailed in the televised Sky Bet Championship clash on Thursday night.
The Millers - who are nursing a squad hampered by injuries and picked up another as Conor Coventry was forced off - were unable to cope with the physical attributes of the Bluebirds as the game neared it's end, boss Taylor explained:
“We didn't have quite enough quality as the game went on.
“Their physicality really out-muscled us at times tonight. I think you saw that with some moments in the first half, including the penalty.
“Their front boys were a real handful and seemed to be a platform constantly throughout the night and then the last 15/20 minutes of the game, we just couldn't quite get out and away from our goal often enough and a set piece moment told.
“The goal knocked us back a little bit.
“Their front boys caused us constant problems throughout the evening. We started to get to grips with them midway through the second half, but the last sort of 15/20 minutes, like I say, the physicality within the group on the pitch just wasn't quite there against a powerful team and they probably are overpowered us for the remainder of the game.
“I think Woody's had a good header, Jordan Hugill hit the bar.
“We actually started the game pretty well and then the goal obviously knocked us back.
“We got back into the game with that quality cross which you've just spoke about. We were lucky to get in level at half time.
“We have to understand that in relation to the penalty. That penalty is an example of what the game was. The physicality at the top end of the pitch and then some bodies coming off our shoulders. We tried to address that as best we could, but like I said, as that second half went on, we weren’t up the pitch often enough.”