Nottingham Forest 2-0 Rotherham: Britt Assombalonga hits second-half double

Britt Assombalonga reminded everyone of his talents as he fired his side to a 2-0 win over Rotherham on Tuesday.

The former Peterborough striker's second-half double at the City Ground earned just a second win in 11 Championship games for Forest.

It gave Forest extra reason to cheer after Nigel Clough turned down the chance to manage the club on Monday and caretaker Gary Brazil sees his side move eight points above the relegation zone.

Rotherham's three-season stay in the second tier is hanging by a thread as they sit 12 points from safety at the foot of the Championship table.

Early chances fell to Jon Taylor, first he shot from distance when he should have passed and then another drilled effort was saved by goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

The game descended into a turgid affair, but Forest began to find their feet as the first half neared its conclusion.

Millers defender Joe Mattock almost put through his own net when his headed clearance went just wide, before the best chance of the game came in the 41st minute and only a superb save by Richard O'Donnell kept the scores level.

The ball fell to Jamie Ward in an inviting position 16-yards out and he made a sweet connection with his first-time shot, but O'Donnell superbly tipped it around the post. Forest built on that momentum and earned the lead five minutes after the restart.

Rotherham failed to clear a cross and when Richard Wood clumsily went through the back of Assombalonga, the referee pointed to the spot, with the Forest striker stepping up to stroke home the penalty for his first goal since November.

The Millers, who have won just one point on the road all season, should have levelled when Danny Ward fired straight at Henderson from eight-yards out and Forest made them pay three minutes later.

A quick break down the right saw Jamie Ward put in an inviting cross which Assombalonga easily slid into the empty net.

Nottingham Forest caretaker boss Gary Brazil:

"We are trying to make sure we do the job properly and we are trying very hard. We are making sure we get ourselves into a sensible place in the league where a squad of this quality should be.

"All the concentration has been on the transfer window. The days have been long, we want to finish the January window stronger than we started it."

Rotherham boss Paul Warne:

"That was the worst performance of my tenure. It's the same old story. I am hugely disappointed, I wanted to get our away form going. There wasn't much in it in the first half, then to give possession away like we did and let them go 1-0 up five minutes after the restart was a bitter pill to swallow.

"It gave my lads a massive kick in the teeth and our heads dropped. I am trying my best with these lads, but my best isn't good enough."