Match ends, Rotherham United 2, Hull City 0.
RotherhamRotherham United2HullHull City0
Hull lost ground on the top two in the Championship as they slumped to a defeat at struggling Rotherham.
Lee Frecklington put the Millers ahead from the penalty spot after Moses Odubajo tripped Kirk Broadfoot.
Joe Newell doubled the lead for Neil Redfearn's side when he danced into the Hull area before hitting a right-foot shot off the underside of the crossbar.
Chuba Akpom twice struck the post with second-half efforts as Hull failed to find a way back into the game.
Rotherham's win, their first in four games, came just days after manager Redfearn said some of his players were not good enough for the Championship.
His criticism seemed to have a positive effect as they took full advantage of Odubajo's clumsy challenge on Broadfoot to take the lead on 28 minutes, with Frecklington drilling the spot-kick straight down the middle past Allan McGregor.
Jake Livermore had a header saved and Akpom curled a shot just over the crossbar as Steve Bruce's side searched for an equaliser before half-time.
Akpom hit the foot of the post straight after the interval after Andrew Robertson played him in before Newell gave Hull a warning of what was to come, cutting inside off the left for a shot into the side netting.
Seven minutes later, he made no mistake and thundered in his third league goal of the season from the edge of the area from Frecklington's pass.
Hull spurned more chances as Akpom once again hit the post when put through on goal by Shaun Maloney, and Harry Maguire headed a late corner wide.
Rotherham manager Neil Redfearn said:
"It was well deserved to be honest, right from the first minute. As a performance it was really pleasing.
"There were some harsh words said and you can put one or two noses out of joint, but that is football, at the end of the day it's a business.
"We have got to get results. We had a good reaction, the lads really responded well.
"One thing they have done since I have been here is fought and they fought today, but they also passed well. We looked like a good side."
Hull City manager Steve Bruce told BBC Radio Humberside:
"It's one of those horrible ones where you make mistakes, which we did. Gift them the opening goal, which gave them a lift, and then of course after that I don't know how many clear cut chances [we had].
"It's been one of those horrible afternoons where you gifted them goals and made mistakes defensively and hadn't been good enough in goal.
"I know we hit the bar twice, but the chances that we've had, really we should be taking some of those."
Line-ups
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Camp
- 12KellySubstituted forBuxtonat 45'minutes
- 20Rawson
- 5BroadfootBooked at 18mins
- 3Mattock
- 17Ward
- 33Smallwood
- 25HyamBooked at 70mins
- 22Newell
- 8FrecklingtonSubstituted forAndreuat 85'minutes
- 9WardSubstituted forClarke-Harrisat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Buxton
- 4Collins
- 11Green
- 19Clarke-Harris
- 21Collin
- 24Andreu
- 27Derbyshire
Hull
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McGregor
- 2OdubajoSubstituted forDiaméat 55'minutes
- 12Maguire
- 6DaviesBooked at 41mins
- 26Robertson
- 27El Mohamady
- 14Livermore
- 7MeylerSubstituted forHuddlestoneat 67'minutes
- 15Maloney
- 19Akpom
- 9HernándezSubstituted forDiomandeat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Taylor
- 8Huddlestone
- 11Clucas
- 16Jakupovic
- 17Diamé
- 20Hayden
- 25Diomande
- Referee:
- Eddie Ilderton
- Attendance:
- 10,355
Match Stats
Home TeamRotherhamAway TeamHull
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rotherham United 2, Hull City 0.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Curtis Davies.
Post update
Attempt missed. Grant Ward (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt saved. Grant Ward (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonson Clarke-Harris.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jake Livermore following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Lewis Buxton.
Post update
Attempt missed. Chuba Akpom (Hull City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Shaun Maloney with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Kirk Broadfoot.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Maguire (Hull City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Shaun Maloney with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Kirk Broadfoot.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Tony Andreu replaces Lee Frecklington.
Post update
Andrew Robertson (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Grant Ward (Rotherham United).
Post update
Chuba Akpom (Hull City) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Shaun Maloney.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Jonson Clarke-Harris replaces Danny Ward.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke Hyam (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Newell.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Ward (Rotherham United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Joe Newell.
Booking
Luke Hyam (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Allan McGregor (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
