Rotherham recorded their first win in four games by thumping ten-man Coventry 4-0 at home.

Rotherham have endured a patchy start to the campaign since returning to League One, having won just four out of 10 games and sitting in mid-table. While this is seen by Rotherham’s standards as a slow start, they can definitely build on this result and rise up the table. 

Coventry came into this game unbeaten having won five and drawn five, proving to be a team that will be hard to beat but also able to score good amounts of goals, which is why Rotherham’s dismantling of them definitely turned some heads and will give Rotherham the belief they can be in the promotion mix.

Here, we look at two reasons why Rotherham’s win over Coventry can kick start their season…

Proof they can mix it with the big boys

Beating any team in your division 4-0 is a great result, let alone when that team is sitting above way you in the play-offs, eight points better off, and yet to taste defeat. Which is what made this Rotherham performance and result much more meaningful than just the scoreline indicates. 

Both teams began the season as promotion contenders and had differing fortunes coming into the fixture. Rotherham’s display not only shows that they can turn around their own fortunes, but also proves to themselves and the division that they can mix it with the best in this division.

With a run of very tough fixtures coming up, Rotherham players and fans alike will fancy their chances to build up momentum and show their promotion credentials when they face three of the top six (Blackpool, Ipswich, Wycombe) plus in-form Oxford.

Michael Smith getting up and running

Prior to Saturday’s big win, Michael Smith had not scored this season but bagged a brace with both coming from the penalty spot, sandwiched between two Matt Crooks goals. 

Every promotion chasing team needs a confident striker able to score the goals to win points every week. In Smith, Rotherham have a target man who isn’t a stranger to the division with 32 goals and 15 assists in his League One career. 

After a dry spell in front of goal, Smith opened his account for the season and surely will not look back now, gaining the confidence needed in front of goal to add to his tally in the coming weeks. Adding to this, Rotherham have found goals from midfield to support Smith’s turn in fortunes; with Ladapo, Wiles, Crooks and Hastie all chipping in.

Boasting the second best defence in the League, it will only be a matter of time before Rotherham move up the table if the front man hits the form he is capable of and showed glimpses of against Coventry.