Lambert double sinks Millers

TWO strikes from former England man Rickie Lambert sentenced Rotherham United to defeat in a tense Championship basement battle with Cardiff City at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Deservedly leading on the hour through an Izzy Brown goal, the Millers looked on course for a precious win against the bottom side until Lambert netted twice in six minutes. The 2-1 defeat drops Alan Stubbs’ men into the bottom three.

With skipper Lee Frecklington, Joe Newell and Darnell Fisher back in the starting line-up, Rotherham made all the running in the first half-hour. Dael Fry and then Danny Ward twice demanded good stops from Ben Amos and Brown flashed a shot just wide of the upright.

Coming into the game on the back of four straight defeats, Cardiff were content to contain although Joe Ralls served warning with a drive that flashed just over and Kelvin Wilson had to produce a goal-saving challenge when Lex Immers squeezed through.

The breakthrough came after 60 minutes. Greg Halford’s long throw caused havoc in the penalty area and Dael Fry cleverly nodded across for Brown to slot past Amos.

City’s attempts to get back into the game weren’t convincing until the the 73rd minute. Peter Whittingham swung in a free-kick and Lambert’s header sneaked inside the post.

Worse was to follow six minutes later when Lambert’s shot on the took a deflection off Fisher and dribbled past the wrong-footed Camp.

Dexter Blackstock was brought on for his debut and but for a block would have scored with his first touch but Cardiff were able to see the game out.

The Millers, who left the field to jeers, must now lift themselves for three tough tests against high-flying Huddersfield on Tuesday and then Newcastle and Norwich.

Millers: Camp, Fisher, Mattock, Fry, Wilson, Taylor, Halford, Frecklington, Newell (Blackstock 82), Brown, Ward

Cardiff: Amos, Peltier, Morrison, Richards, Connolly, Ralls (Harris 70), Noone, Whittingham, O’Keefe, Lambert, Immers

Referee: David Coote (Notts)

Attendance: 8,448 (390 visitors)