F-T: Millers make the play-offs ... Rotherham United 2 Bristol Rovers 0

Rotherham United sealed their place in the League One play-offs by seeing off Bristol Rovers in the sunshine at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Rotherham United v Bristol RoversRotherham United v Bristol Rovers
Rotherham United v Bristol Rovers

The Millers were virtually guaranteed a top-six spot anyway, but goals from Michael Smith and Caolan Lavery made it a mathematical certainty.

After results elsewhere, Paul Warne's men will almost certainly end the campaign in the fourth spot they have held for so long.

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Rotherham took the lead in stunning style after only nine minutes as Smith dispossessed James Clarke on the halfway line, raced just inside the penalty area and buried his angled shot high into the far corner.

Substitute Lavery made sure of victory in the 90th minute when he touched home Joe Newell's cross.

The hard-working Millers generally had the upper hand and Will Vaulks was just over with a half-volley three minutes after the opener following a well-worked corner routine with Matt Palmer.

Jon Taylor's break and Smith's pass put Richie Towell in the clear in the 30th minute only for the midfielder to fluff his shot when he would have expected to at least work goalkeeper Sam Slocombe.

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Newell hit the side-setting with a low 20-yard effort 10 minutes before the break.

Rotherham lost some of their verve in the second half and the visitors should have been level after 53 minutes when Byron Moore did well to work himself into a scoring position but completely mishit his shot, then Ellis Harrison fired wide.

Marek Rodak saved the home team in the 84th minute when he denied Kyle Bennett who was through one on one.

But the Millers hit back in the closing stages. Newell, who had set up Ryan Wiliams for a 71st-minute chance, was the provider again as Lavery ended the contest and the New York celebrations could begin.

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Rotherham (4-1-4-1): Rodak; Emmanuel, Ihiekwe, Wood, Purrington; Vaulks; Taylor (Williams 65), Towell (Lavery 59), Palmer (Ajayi 76), Newell; Smith. Subs not used: Price, Cummings, Forde, Ball.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Slocombe; J Clarke, Lockyer, Craig, Bola; Moore (Mensah 69), Lines, O Clarke, Bennett; Nichols (Telford 69), Harrison (Gaffney 78). Subs not used: Smith, Brown, Broadbent, Ruse.

Goals: Smith 9, Lavery 90 (Rotherham).

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 8,579 (608).