Rotherham striker Michael Smith desperate to fire Millers to Championship safety

Smith scored his 100th career goal as the Millers beat Bristol City 2-0 before the international break to significantly boost their survival chances.

It was his ninth of the campaign – his best tally at Championship level – and Smith's form gives hope that Paul Warne's side can beat the drop.

They have been working hard on the training pitch during the international break but Smith is ready for the gruelling return to action, where the Millers play 12 times in six weeks.

“I’m looking forward to the run-in being so busy,” he said. “I’d rather be playing games and preparing for games than training.

“I enjoy the challenge of getting ready for a game. I enjoy all the preparation and the work that goes into it and then the excitement of the match itself.

“It’s just a shame the fans aren’t here to be part of it. Especially the home games, they would have really helped us.

“But I think we’ve got more than enough in that dressing room to stay up. We’ve given every team in the division a game.

“We’ve given ourselves a real chance of survival. We’re quietly confident.”

Smith was something of a misfit before coming to the Millers in 2017, where he found love from boss Warne and tough love from assistant Richie Barker.

“I’ve loved my football since I’ve come here,” he added.

“The manager and the coaching staff — Richie, Hammy, everyone — have been spot on with us. The style we play suits my game down to a tee.

“Richie is very harsh on me. He’s right, though, and it’s constructive criticism that he gives.

“I want to get as many goals as I can. I’m a striker. When it comes to goals, I’m selfish. I want to score. In turn, it helps the team if I’m scoring.”

Rotherham are currently three points from safety, having played four fewer games than Birmingham City in twenty-first place.

They play Millwall on Good Friday.