Match ends, Rotherham United 4, Bolton Wanderers 0.
RotherhamRotherham United4BoltonBolton Wanderers0
Rotherham United beat Bolton with four second-half goals to pile more misery on the Championship's bottom club.
A tight first half saw Zach Clough go close for Bolton and Danny Ward had a similar effort for the hosts.
Grant Ward put Rotherham ahead with a half-volley from the edge of the box, while Danny Ward rounded Ben Amos to score against his former club.
Joe Newell scored from a tight angle and Jonson Clarke-Harris slotted into the bottom corner to complete the win.
The victory was enough to lift the Millers out of the Championship relegation zone, while Bolton's winless run in the league was extended to 17 matches.
Bolton had the game's first chance as Emile Heskey released Clough, whose close-range shot was superbly saved by Lee Camp, but Rotherham asserted their authority as the half went on and went close three times in a matter of minutes.
Newell's inswinging strike was palmed over by Amos, Kirk Broadfoot put his header over the bar, while Amos saved from Danny Ward at close range.
An injury to Bolton's former England striker Heskey saw him substituted at the start of the second half and his replacement Gary Madine caused trouble straight away with a clever flick.
The home side went in front from a well-worked corner as Tony Andreu set up Ward to fire in a half-volley through the body of Amos.
Bolton, without a win since 12 September, never let their heads drop and Liam Feeney's back-post header went just wide.
Amos produced a stunning save to keep the deficit down as he clawed away Broadfoot's effort, but could do nothing to stop Ward, who had been sent clear by Newell.
Newell then powered in behind the Bolton defence to make it three and substitute Clarke-Harris latched onto Andreu's clever backheel to wrap up a second win in as many matches.
Rotherham boss Neil Redfearn: "There was a lot at stake for both sides and I thought we were the better side.
"I thought in the second half, it really opened up, it became stretched and that suited us.
"Four wins in seven is definitely play-off form, but we are in the position we are in. We have got to keep doing what we are doing and keep putting little runs together."
Bolton manager Neil Lennon: "It's not been good enough, we're bottom of the league and we're in danger of being stranded.
"I have seen it too many times now away from home now - as soon as we concede we seem to drop our heads, stop competing all together and we made it too easy for Rotherham to score.
"I want to try to turn things around, I don't want to quit, I don't want to resign, I want to turn things around, but that may be taken out of my hands."
Line-ups
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Camp
- 16Richardson
- 20Rawson
- 5Broadfoot
- 3Mattock
- 17WardBooked at 76mins
- 33Smallwood
- 8Frecklington
- 22NewellSubstituted forGreenat 90+2'minutes
- 24Andreu
- 9WardSubstituted forClarke-Harrisat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Collins
- 10Ledesma
- 11Green
- 19Clarke-Harris
- 21Collin
- 23Thorpe
- 27Derbyshire
Bolton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Amos
- 45HoldingBooked at 76mins
- 4Dervite
- 31Wheater
- 3Moxey
- 8SpearingSubstituted forWellingtonat 61'minutes
- 18Danns
- 7Feeney
- 10Clough
- 21Pratley
- 19HeskeySubstituted forMadineat 48'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gouano
- 13Rachubka
- 14Madine
- 15Derik
- 22Wellington
- 23Dobbie
- 27Twardzik
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 11,315
Match Stats
Home TeamRotherhamAway TeamBolton
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away2
- Corners
- Home12
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rotherham United 4, Bolton Wanderers 0.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Ben Amos.
Post update
Attempt saved. Grant Ward (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Richard Smallwood.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Paul Green replaces Joe Newell.
Post update
Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Darren Pratley (Bolton Wanderers).
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Joe Mattock.
Post update
Attempt saved. Zach Clough (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dean Moxey.
Post update
Corner, Rotherham United. Conceded by Ben Amos.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tony Andreu.
Post update
Attempt missed. Zach Clough (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Lee Frecklington (Rotherham United).
Post update
Zach Clough (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Rotherham United 4, Bolton Wanderers 0. Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tony Andreu with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tony Andreu (Rotherham United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Lee Frecklington.
Post update
Farrend Rawson (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Gary Madine (Bolton Wanderers).
Goal!
Goal! Rotherham United 3, Bolton Wanderers 0. Joe Newell (Rotherham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tony Andreu.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Jonson Clarke-Harris replaces Danny Ward.
