Iron v Millers

PAUL Warne knew it and so did the players and the travelling supporters.
Rotherham United's promotion tilt cranked up a notch at Glanford Park on Saturday and the match, more than any in their season-turning unbeaten run, marks them out as genuine contenders.
Scunthorpe took some holding. They moved the ball at times with a speed and precision that would have cut lesser opponents apart. But like many before them they emerged second best to a Rotherham side which has a bit of everything at the moment.
The Millers had the power, the legs, the organisation and the unflinching commitment to see the most difficult of assignments through.
They had a little bit of luck too when goalkeeper Marek Rodak sent Ivan Toney tumbling in the first half. It looked a stonewall penalty.
Even if it had been given and Scunthorpe had converted it, who is to say Warne's relentless side wouldn't still have held sway.
The manager had his defenders sticking their bodies on the line when it mattered. He had two diligent shields in front of them in Will Vaulks and Richie Towell. He had no shortage of go-forward from his wide men and the usual industry from Michael Smith and David Ball up front.
The first half, indeed the whole match, was a hectic, frantic and absorbing affair between two sides committed to attack.
It is to Rotherham's credit that they through a testing first 45 with the lead, handed to them by another player who has gained a new lease of life lately.
Vaulks' long throw caused panic and Joe Newell stretched a leg to hook beyond the reach of goalkeeper Matt Gilks.
Scunthorpe played the more eye catching stuff but were often forced out wide and created only half-chances at best.
By the early stages of the second half they seemed to run out of legs and ideas while the Millers, so fit these days, gained a second wind.
When Semi Ajayi strode forward to head in the second goal on 70 minutes after a clearance spun into the air, it should really have been game over.
Lee Novak's swift reply, seizing on a rare moment of defensive hesitation to round Rodak and convert from an angle, set up a nervy finish for Rotherham and their 2,100 travelling supporters.
The addition of an inexplicable eight minutes of stoppage time didn't help either and Duane Holmes missed a decent chance to equalise off the last kick.
Frustration for Scunthorpe, elation for the Millers, who are now right on the shoulders of their rivals in the top six.
One or two sides above might be casting a glance over their shoulders as well.

Marek Rodak 7
Josh Emmanuel 7
Joe Mattock 7
Semi Ajayi 8
Richard Wood 7
Anthony Forde 7
Will Vaulks 8
Richie Towell 8
Joe Newell 7
David Ball 7
Michael Smith 7
Subs: Ryan Williams for Newell (66) 7, Caolan Lavery for Ball (75). Not used: Lewis Price, Matt Palmer, Jon Taylor, Michael Ihiekwe, Jerry Yates