Late own goal gives Rotherham United first win

A late own goal from Matthew Connolly gave Rotherham United a 2-1 win over 10-man Cardiff City as the hosts picked up their first victory of the Championship campaign.

In a fairly timid opening, Rotherham came closest on 13 minutes when a goal-bound header was cleared off the line from a corner.

Cardiff nearly profited from Peter Whittingham's teasing delivery, but Rotherham defender Richard Smallwood did well to block the shot.

Matt Derbyshire pounced on a mistake in the Cardiff defence on 32 minutes, but the chance went begging as his strike partner Jonson Clarke-Harris failed to connect with the cross.

Cardiff had goalkeeper David Marshall sent off for kicking out towards the end of the half, and it was Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe who netted the resulting spot kick inside the final five minutes of the half.

However, the Welsh side responded three minutes into stoppage time when Whittingham converted his own penalty after Fabio had been brought down by Ferrand Rawson.

After the break, Rotherham were denied by stand-in keeper Simon Moore who did well to keep out Clarke-Harris's driven volley.

Derbyshire perhaps should have done better after the hour mark when he headed straight at Moore when well placed.

Rotherham enjoyed the greater share of possession as they pressed for a winner and Clarke-Harris went close with a flicked header that dropped just wide on 80 minutes.

With the game into stoppage time, it was Connolly's misfortune that gave the home side the points to move them up to five points at the foot of the Championship table.