Stoke City 0 Rotherham United 2

Last updated : 13 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Relegation battlers Rotherham United snatched a vital three points from a tired Stoke City side at the Britannia Stadium.

Goals by Jody Morris and Martin Butler brought the Potters' eight-game unbeaten home run to a crashing halt.

After a barren spell away from home, the win has given Rotherham's bid for division one survival a massive boost.

Still deep in the relegation battle Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore singled out the result as crucial to his sides' survival.

He said: "The gods have smiled on us today because looking at the way teams have performed around us we needed the win." Moore described goal hero Morris' input to be vital to his side's victory.

He added: "He is just what we've needed and today he has shown he is a quality player." In a game where Stoke were out-fought manager Tony Pulis blamed fatigue for his sides lack-lustre performance.

He said: "We looked jaded today and to be fair they deserved the points." According to the form guide Rotherham seemed in for a rough ride at the Britannia Stadium.

But it was the underdogs who had the best of the action from the first whistle.

They looked set to take the lead in the 20th minute when the advancing Morris ballooned his shot over the bar from just five yards.

But he made no mistake with his second attempt a minute later, getting on the end of a Michael Proctor pass before firing a shot into the bottom corner.

Morris' goal woke the home side up and the City strikeforce began to press for an equaliser.

But Rotherham keeper Mike Pollitt was on hand to deny Kris Commons' speculative effort and keep the away side in front.

The visitors finished off City in the second half but Butler's swerving shot beat an outstretched Neil Cutler to give Rotherham maximum points.