Crowd incident spoils the day as Millers go top of the table ... Crewe Alexandra 0 Rotherham United 2

The striker's 20th and 21st goals of the season should have made it a happy afternoon for the Millers at Gresty Road.

However, the match was marred by a second-half incident where it appeared something was thrown at a linesman by someone in the visiting crowd.

Captain Richard went over and spoke to supporters after the official concerned had made a complaint to the referee.

It's the second away match in succession Rotherham fans have been under the spotlight following the embarrassment of the disrespected minute's silence and in-fighting at Fleetwood Town two weeks ago.

Smith struck in each half as his team moved above Sunderland and Wigan Athletic to reclaim top spot.

The Millers were ahead after only seven minutes when the striker's movement took him away from his markers and he was in the clear to head home Rarmani Edmonds-Green's cross.

Soon afterwards, Shane Ferguson strode forward and unleashed a long-range effort that flew just over as the visitors dominated the early proceedings.

Smith almost claimed goal number 21 in the 19th minute, rattling the bar with a header from Fergson's corner before being denied in the subsequent goalmouth scramble.

The Millers were in control against opponents 22nd in the table but a slip by Ollie Rathbone allowed Luke Murphy to free Christopher Long who ran in on goal only to fire wastefully wide for the home side.

Rotherham had played and won 4-2 at Crewe in the EFL Trophy on a freezing Tueday night three and a half weeks ago. Temperatures in Cheshire weren't as low this time around but Storm Malik had the wind whipping around the ground.

Paul Warne's men were clearly the better side but allowed Crewe to come back into the game and the contest was much more even as half-time approached.

Josh Vickers saved comfortably at the near post from Long before the Millers went in at the break with more concerns than they'd been anticipating during their flying start.

Manager Warne had dropped wantaway striker Freddie Ladapo to the bench, preferring Will Grigg as Smith's partner up front.

Shane Ferguson was at left wing-back, with Mickel Miller, a starter in the win over Cheltenham Town a week earlier, joining Ladapo among the substitutes.

Playing against the wind in the second half, Rotherham made little impression for 20 minutes but neither did Crewe at the other end.

Soon after the crowd controversy, on 73 minutes, Chiedozie Ogbene was too quick again for Scott Robertson and the home substitute was sent off for a second yellow card.

From the free-kick, Dan Barlaser crossed and Smith bundled the ball home. This time it was goal number 21!

He could have had a hat-trick but wasted a late chance – as did Ben Wiles - on a day of mixed emotions for the Millers.

Crewe (3-5-2): David Richards; Connor O'Riordan, Billy Sass-Davies, Luke Offord; Mikael Mandron, Tom Lowery, Luke Murphy, Oli Finney (Callum Ainley 75), Travis Johnson (Scott Robertson 38); Christopher Long, Chris Porter (Bassala Sambou 75). Subs not used: Will Jaaskelainen, Regan Griffiths, Josh Lundstram, Connor Salisbury.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Josh Vickers; Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Wes Harding 79), Richard Wood, Michael Ihiekwe; Chiedozie Ogbene, Ben Wiles, Dan Barlaser (Jamie Lindsay 87), Ollie Rathbone, Shane Ferguson; Michael Smith, Will Grigg (Josh Kayode 65). Subs not used: Viktor Johansson, Hakeem Odoffin, Mickel Miller, Freddie Ladapo.

Goals: Smith 7, 73  (Rotherham).

Red card: Robertson (Crewe) 73.

Referee: Ben Speedie (Merseyside).

Attendance: 5,014 (1,093).