Rotherham leapfrogged fellow promotion hopefuls Sunderland with a stunning 5-1 victory.
Michael Smith and Freddie Ladapo’s doubles alongside Michael Ihiekwe’s header sealed the Millers the points over Lee Johnson’s 10 men following Aiden McGeady’s second-half dismissal.
Rotherham took a 10th-minute lead, with Smith heading into the far corner after a clever pass from Ladapo.
Sunderland struck back in the 24th minute, with Ross Stewart wriggling his way into the box and then driving a low effort beyond Josh Vickers.
Rotherham were back ahead on 41 minutes with Ladapo on hand to finish off from close range from Smith’s low cross.
The two-goal advantage came in the 53rd minute when Ihiekwe powered in from Shane Ferguson’s corner.
The visitors were dealt a further blow in the 56th minute when McGeady lost his cool and received a second yellow card for lunging in late on Wes Harding.
Smith added further punishment as he headed in at the back post on 73 minutes from Rarmani Edmonds-Green’s cross.
It was five on 88 minutes with Joshua Kayode rounding Ron-Thorben Hoffmann and unselfishly supplying Ladapo a tap-in.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Rotherham
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 31Vickers
- 23Edmonds-Green
- 20Ihiekwe
- 2Harding
- 4Barlaser
- 11OgbeneSubstituted forSadlierat 75′minutes
- 18Rathbone
- 8Wiles
- 17FergusonSubstituted forMillerat 75′minutes
- 24SmithBooked at 71minsSubstituted forKayodeat 75′minutes
- 10Ladapo
Substitutes
- 1Johansson
- 6Wood
- 7Sadlier
- 14Miller
- 15Bola
- 19Kayode
- 22Odoffin
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 39Hoffmann
- 15Winchester
- 3Flanagan
- 6Doyle
- 17Cirkin
- 13O’NienBooked at 38minsSubstituted forWrightat 45′minutes
- 24Neil
- 7DajakuSubstituted forEvansat 59′minutesBooked at 64mins
- 8EmbletonSubstituted forGoochat 45′minutes
- 28McGeadyBooked at 56mins
- 14Stewart
Substitutes
- 1Burge
- 4Evans
- 5Alves
- 10O’Brien
- 11Gooch
- 26Wright
- 45Wearne
- Referee:
- David Rock
- Attendance:
- 10,573
Live Text
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Match ends, Rotherham United 5, Sunderland 1.
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Second Half ends, Rotherham United 5, Sunderland 1.
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Wes Harding (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bailey Wright (Sunderland).
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Foul by Ben Wiles (Rotherham United).
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Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Ross Stewart (Sunderland).
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Foul by Freddie Ladapo (Rotherham United).
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Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Kieran Sadlier (Rotherham United).
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Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Oliver Rathbone (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Callum Doyle (Sunderland).
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Goal! Rotherham United 5, Sunderland 1. Freddie Ladapo (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joshua Kayode.
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Attempt saved. Corry Evans (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniel Neil.
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Foul by Daniel Barlaser (Rotherham United).
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Lynden Gooch (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Kieran Sadlier (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Kieran Sadlier (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
