Rotherham thrash Peterborough to end 2019 in great style

Kyle Vassel celebrates his goal with team mates. Picture: Scott Merrylees

Way back on January 1, the Millers earned a 2-1 win over Preston that gave them hope they could beat the Championship drop.

That ultimately proved misplaced, but Sunday’s 4-0 hammering of promotion rivals Peterborough is the best indicator yet that Paul Warne’s side could make an instant return to the second tier.

Second-half goals from Richard Wood and Kyle Vassell, which bookended own goals by Dan Butler and Joe Ward gave the Millers the points in a game where both sides ended with 10 men.

Frankie Kent saw red for Posh and then Joe Mattock followed for the Millers for violent conduct and he will now sit out the next three games. That was the only blot on the copybook as Warne’s men surge up to third in the League One table, a point off the automatic promotion points.

At the halfway point of the season, they are firmly in the race to go back up to the Championship at the first time of asking and with leaders Wycombe beginning to stumble, it is one which is wide open.

The Millers had to wait until the second half to enjoy the rewards of their dominant performance as Richard Wood headed home from a corner in the 50th minute.

Four minutes later Posh, who the Millers climbed above in the table, Kent was sent off for a second yellow card and the visitors’ afternoon got worse when Butler redirected Matt Crooks’ attempt in to his own goal.

Mattock stupidly saw red when he put his head in the face of Ivan Toney, but the Millers were not put off their stride as Ward was next to put through his own net with 13 minutes remaining.

The win was rounded off in style as Vassell produced a stunning overhead kick at the death for his first league goal for the club.

Warne said: “We were a bit more like us and it was more of a Rotherham performance.

“I’m not getting too giddy with the table as it’s close. I think there will be loads of changes between now and the end of the season. Hopefully we should be there or thereabouts. I’m just more pleased about how we played. We got a bit of luck here and there but to win is nice.”