KIERAN Agard who is in hot form infront of goal scored the only goal of the game to earn Rotherham a good 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Following the tour to Scotland this was their first game at the New York Stadium and manager Steve Evans handed starts to 5 of his 11 summer signings with Frazer Richardson, Richard Wood, Mat Sadler, Paul Green & Jordan Bowrey all started in the game.

It was a slow start to the game by both teams but Rotherham had the first chance of the game when Alex Revell went down under a challenge of ex Chelsea and Hamburg defender Michael Mancienne on the edge of the box, from the free-kick Ben Pringle's effort was poor as it was drilled low which came back from the Forest wall.

Minutes later, new boy Richardson curled a delightful ball into the box both Bowery failed to connect with the goal waiting to buldge.

Down at the other end, Jamie Paterson challenged fiercely in the middle of the park and the ball fortunately ricocheted into the path of Simon Cox, who went round Adam Colin before losing his footing and the Forest players wanted a penalty which referee Mr Moss waved away.

Moments later, Greg Halford worked a shooting position before firing over the bar before the Millers' tested Karl Darlow in the Forest goal for the first time when he pushed away a shot from Michael Tidser from outside the box after good work from Richardson and Agard.

After the half hour mark, Forest failed to clear a decisive cross and Tidser found some space before firing low past the goal, the effort from Tidser was deflected behind for a corner which Pringle's centre caught Darlow flapping and Revell headed wide of the upright.

Rotherham had to make a early change when Daniel Rowe replaced the injured Wood.

Moments later, a great move by the home side saw Sadler float a good cross towards Revell who's looping header against the underside of the crossbar but if it had gone in the goal would have been ruled out for a foul by Revell.

At the break Steve Evans changed 8 of his starting XI as he brought on Loach, Brindley, Broadfoot, Arnason, Skarz, Frecklington, Newton and Hall for Collin, Richardson, Rowe, Morgan, Sadler, Tidser, Green and Bowery.

Rotherham started the second half as they finised the first and a ball into the channel from Pringle found Revell who's inviting ball evaded Agard but Hall pounced on the ball and fired a effort wide narrowly at the far post.

Just on the hour mark, Revell saw a header go narrowly wide of the target before Rotherham opened the scoring on 65 minutes.

There was little danger for the visitors to worry about until Pringle played a beautiful ball which split the Forest defence andd Agard had loads of space to take the ball in his stride and calmly curled the ball past Darlow into the goal just inside the near post.

Moments later, Rotherham brought on trialist Jonathan Greening against his former club he replaced Pringle, Forest sub Radoslaw Mjewski dragged a shot wide of the target at the other end.

Moments later, Rotherham had some luck when Louis Lang's cross struck Arnason which set up Stephen McLaughlin to fire an instinctive effort that crashed against the crossbar.

With just 10 minutes left on the clock, Hall hit a deep free-kick which Darlow was a full stretch from and it came out to Greening who's effort from distances was deflected wide for a corner.

Time was running out and Forest came with in a chance of a equaliser when Dan Harding's cross saw sub Lars Veldwijk beat his mark and saw a header crash against the bar and roll across the goal-line to safety.

That proved to be the last action of the game as Rotherham held on to win 1-0 against Nottingham Forest who will be back here at The New York Stadium on December 13th for a league meeting.

Rotherham:- Collin (Loach 46), Richardson (Brindley 46), Wood (Rowe 43, Broadfoot 46), Morgan (Arnason 46), Sadler (Skarz 46), Agard (Walker 88), Tidser (Frecklington 46) , Green (Newton 46), Pringle (Greening 66), Revell (Rose 80), Bowery (Hall 46).

Nottm Forest:- Darlow, Hunt (Vaughan 60), Mancienne (Collins 88), Fox, Harding, Halford (Laing 60), Osborn (Walker 81), Mackie (McLaughlin 60), Reid (Majewski 60), Paterson (Silva 46), Cox (Veldwijk 81).