Rotherham United 1-2 Cardiff City: Bennett wins it late on for Bluebirds

The Cardiff revival under Mick McCarthy continued as Joe Bennett's late header earned them a 2-1 win at Rotherham.

The hosts had equalised just past the hour when Matt Crooks tapped home after Michael Smith's inviting cross.

The deadlock was broken in an even first half when Sheyi Ojo raced clear from Harry Wilson's smart through ball.

The victory for Cardiff in a game rearranged after originally being postponed in January sees them rise to 11th while Rotherham are still 20th, one point ahead of the relegation zone.

Though both the Millers and Bluebirds have had more disappointing days this season than pleasing ones, it is fair to say they were meeting at New York Stadium at a time when both were producing their best form of the campaign.

Rotherham had taken 13 points in their previous six games to climb out of the relegation places, while Cardiff had not lost since McCarthy succeeded Neil Harris.

No side in the Championship has won more points in 2021 than Paul Warne's team, who retained Clark Robertson in their starting XI after the impressive 2-1 win over Preston.

After a season-best display last time out in their 2-0 win at Bristol City, McCarthy would no doubt have liked to pick an unchanged side, but goalkeeper Alex Smithies was ruled out by the illness that forced him off at Ashton Gate.

With confidence flowing for both teams it was perhaps no surprise that the first half was a tight affair with chances few and far between.

Cardiff appealed for a penalty when Daniel Barlaser appeared to handle in the box, but the Millers perhaps had a better shout when Smith was barged over by Curtis Nelson, but referee Geoff Eltringham remained unmoved both times.

Smith, recalled by the hosts, was the liveliest attacker in the opening exchanges and his quick thinking on 24 minutes produced a clear opportunity, but Dillon Phillips saved smartly as he tipped his shot across goal around his post.

Phillips also had to scramble to keep out a Smith header on 36 minutes from close range as he did brilliantly to tip the ball over, while Viktor Johansson was called into action for the first time moments later as he saved Kieffer Moore's low 20-yard shot.

However, Cardiff seized the advantage just before the interval when they hit Rotherham with a counter-attack from the edge of their own penalty area, with Harry Wilson releasing Ojo who raced clear before coolly sliding home his fifth goal of the season past the advancing Johansson.

Johansson produced a stunning instinctive save to keep his side in contention just after the interval when Wilson's shot fell kindly to Sean Morrison who blasted at goal and the stop proved crucial at the Millers were soon level.

Like with Cardiff's goal, Rotherham scored from a quick and decisive break as Smith found space down the right and crossed perfectly for Crooks who tapped home from inside the six-yard box.

Substitute Murphy lashed over as Cardiff tried to get on the front foot again, while heavy snow meant a yellow ball was required for the final 15 minutes as both sides sought a winner in ever worsening conditions.

It was Cardiff who found the breakthrough as Murphy's excellent, high, hanging cross was headed home by Bennett as the Millers appealed for an offside flag that never arrived, while an almighty scramble at the death almost got Rotherham level, but Lewis Wing blazed over.

Rotherham manager Paul Warne said:

"We go through games of full luck or no luck. We rode our luck Saturday (victory at Preston) but I didn't think we had any tonight.

"I thought over the course of 95 minutes we didn't deserve to lose. I asked the lads to give everything they've got.

"We got ourselves back in the game and I thought we would go on and win it.

"All in all we come away disappointed but really proud of the way we played. To come away with nothing seems a bit harsh."

Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy told BBC Sport Wales:

"Conditions weren't great and we had to fight fire with fire, freekicks, corners, throw-ins, playing for seconds (second balls) and I think the lads handled it really, really well.

"We are bitterly disappointed with the goal we conceded, but the two goals we got were good ones.

"I am really, really delighted with the performance.

"The squad I have inherited has quality in it and we've needed to show some fighting spirit first."