Rotherham United 3 Burton Albion 2

League One leaders Rotherham moved three points clear at the top after a 3-2 win over Burton Albion.
Freddie Ladapo scored the winner for Rotherham on his birthday. Picture Scott MerryleesFreddie Ladapo scored the winner for Rotherham on his birthday. Picture Scott Merrylees
Freddie Ladapo scored the winner for Rotherham on his birthday. Picture Scott Merrylees

The visitors were ahead after seven minutes through Jamie Murphy but the lead lasted only two minutes as Michael Smith equalised.

Smith headed his second from a corner to put Rotherham ahead, but straight down the other end Oliver Sarkic levelled the scores.

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Freddie Ladapo proved the match-winner as he smashed an effort low into the corner.

“I can come up with all sorts of clichés about how good teams win when they play poorly, but I didn’t think we were very good today,” said MIller boss Paul Warne afterwards.

“We looked jaded. It’s on me, I probably should have made changes but they were so good Tuesday night. It’s difficult to change after a great performance. We just looked a bit emotionally drained, I think. I wasn’t best pleased with it but to come out with three points is testament to the lads.

“We created enough opportunities to win the game today but we conceded enough opportunities to lose the game. If you’re a neutral you’d have loved it.

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“On another day, we could have won comfortably or took a good beating. I’m pleased we’ve won when we’ve played bad and it’s always easy to learn after a victory.

“We need to freshen them up for next week because that level of performance won’t get us where we want to be.”

“The birthday boy got the winning goal,” added Warne.

“I said to him before that that would happen. He’s the happiest lad in the dressing room.

“There is some tired legs, I think. Last week took a lot out of a couple of players and it’s been an emotional week for us all. Maybe I didn’t have my finger on the pulse as much as normal.

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“I’ll take a bit of responsibility but I thought the fans stayed with the team really well today, which I really appreciate because if that had been earlier in the season when we’d performed like that it would have been a different sort of atmosphere.“We’ve got 15 games left. It’s nice to be top but there are a couple of teams with games in hand. All we can do is try to win our games and have a level of performance which, at times, wasn’t there today.”