Adie Williams hammered another nail in Rotherham's coffin as his strike earned
Coventry a 2-1 win at Millmoor.
After registering victory at Leicester and a point against West Ham on
Tuesday, manager Ronnie Moore would have fancied his side's chances against the
Sky Blues.
Indeed, after Junior's tap-in put Rotherham in the driving seat after 39
minutes, things looked rosy for the south Yorkshire outfit.
However, the game hinged on Peter Reid's inspired double substitution at the
interval.
Louis Carey and Stephen Hughes were replaced by Dean Leacock and Neil Wood and
Coventry, so listless in the first half, sparked into life.
Stern John equalised for the visitors with a tidy finish after 58 minutes
before Williams finished from close range to leave the Millers even deeper in
the relegation mire.
Rotherham played the better football in a non-descript opening, but it was
Coventry who came closest to scoring after 20 minutes.
Carey hared down the left flank and executed a textbook delivery to Stern,
whose thumping header was expertly saved by goalkeeper Mike Pollitt.
Rotherham's response was swift and almost decisive.
Andy Monkhouse was afforded far too much space just inside Coventry's 18-yard
box and almost took full advantage with a vicious snap-shot that keeper Luke
Steele did superbly well to smother.
Monkhouse's effort was followed up by Shaun Barker's speculative drive which
fizzed just wide of the target while Gary McSheffrey also went close from
distance at the other end.
The Millers finished the first half with a flourish and were rewarded with the
opening goal six minutes before the break.
Rotherham's strongest weapon in their artillery is unquestionably their aerial
presence from set-pieces and after McLaren's corner was knocked down by Chris
Swailes, Junior was on hand to sweep the ball into the back of the net from two
yards.
City boss Peter Reid had seen enough and replaced Carey and Hughes with
Leacock and Wood at the break.
Reid's double gamble proved a masterstroke as his side improved out of sight
after the restart.
Shortly after McSheffrey tried his luck from 20 yards, Coventry deservedly
restored parity after 58 minutes.
Michael Doyle's cross-cum-shot caught Rotherham's statuesque defence on their
heels and John was left with the simple task of stabbing the ball into the back
of the net.
Shellshocked Rotherham are desperate for points and unsurprisingly went about
regaining the initiative with admirable gusto.
However, Coventry were now in no mood for compromise and delivered the killer
blow with 15 minutes remaining.
Doyle's inswinging corner was not dealt with by Rotherham's shaky defence and
the ball fell kindly to Williams, who unleashed an unstoppable hit with his
right foot.
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