Strangely enough Wrexham played far better for the 75 minutes when they were down to 10-men than when they had their full compliment available for the first 14 minutes.

The two late goals came when the visitors were committed to looking for an equaliser and in the end the margin of defeat was somewhat harsh, although that's not to deny that the home side deserved to win.

The Rotherham fans were celebrating early on when Derek Holmes headed home, but their cheers were cut short when they spotted a linesman with his flag raised.

On four minutes, Chris Llewellyn broke down the right wing, beat the offside trap, drove 30-yards to the line and crossed hard across the face of the exposed home goal, but neither Neil Roberts or Michael Proctor were able to make contact, despite diving in on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Wrexham goal then had a major let off on 10 minutes, as first Graham Coughlan saw his header came back off the crossbar, with the ball arriving at the feet of the unmarked Holmes, who, with the goal at his mercy fired straight in to the arms of the prostrate Anthony Williams.

It was an amazing miss by the former Hearts, Bournemouth and Carlisle striker, who has enjoyed scoring a few goals against the Dragons over the years.

Matt Crowell then lunged in at Ian Ross after just 13 minutes and while it seemed a yellow card foul, referee Ward, who had sent off three players in his previous two matches, deemed it a two-footed challenge and sent the midfielder straight off.

This was a cruel blow for the south Walian, who was back in the side after being left out since early October and now finds himself suspended for the next three games, with his short-term contract expiring on New Year's Day!

Brian Little responded by pulling Roberts back into midfield, alongside Mark Jones, with Sam Aiston and Chris Llewellyn acting as the wide men to support the lone striker in Proctor.

The Millers seemed to take their foot off the pedal against the 10-men and the locals were unhappy with their lack of progress. The only real effort in the 15 minutes following Crowell's departure was a dipping volley by Ross, which comfortably cleared Williams' crossbar, but did strike a metal pole supporting the back of the net.

From a long Williams' clearance down field Rotherham keeper Warrington and defender Sharps dithered between them, allowing Proctor to stick a foot in between the pair. His chip did just clear the home crossbar from 20-yards, but the referee also blew for a foul by the Wrexham striker, when it looked to be the other way.

Then there was some bad luck for the visitors on 39 minutes, as Taylor put through the Wrexham defence for Brogan to push before passing across the face of goal for Ross to hit in a poor shot that Valentine blocked, but only succeeded in knocking the ball into the path of Derek Holmes, who from eight yards was not going to pass up another open goal.

HT
Little had to make changes in tactics at the interval, as the 10-men had to somehow try and make themselves a threat to Warrington's goal, and he decided to push Roberts back into the front line alongside Proctor, leaving three in midfield and four at the back.

Four minutes after the restart, Llewellyn hit a great pass down the left for the speeding Proctor, who stretched the United defence before dragging his pass back to the edge of the box where Mark Jones lined-up a long-range effort that curled wide of its intended target.

From a Rotherham corner, Aiston headed the ball away from Sharps and was threatening to break up field until the centre back pulled him back, but with Wrexham still in a 2-on-2 situation the referee stopped play and booked the former Tranmere defender. Much to the annoyance of Roberts and the travelling fans, who could see a clear advantage for the visitors.

Wrexham found themselves stretched at the back on 57 minutes, with Marc Joseph's cross evading the covering defenders and arriving at the feet of Ross, but Williams was quickly off his line to narrow the angle and block the midfielder's shot.

The ball then moved quickly to the other end with Proctor having an effort blocked before Baynes followed up with a speculative shot from distance that was always going wide, but at least the youngster was not afraid to try his luck.

The Welshmen were having to take risks in getting men forward, looking for that leveller, and this was giving Rotherham room to push on when the won the ball back, giving them a number of half chances.

There should have been a equaliser on 66 minutes, when Aiston produced a great surging run that took him from the halfway line to a one-on-one situation with the Rotherham keeper, but after carrying the ball so far he could only fire his shot into the body of the advancing keeper, when a little chip would surely have brought the Reds back onto to level terms.

Then Wrexham's spirited resistance was finally ended on 72 minutes, when Derek Holmes grabbed his second of the afternoon when the Scotsman finished at the back post after Brogan's left wing cross had found the striker.

There was a rare run out for Josh Johnson with 13 minutes remaining as he was sent on for Mark Jones, although he joined Proctor in attack and Roberts returned to midfield.

The Millers carved out a third on 82 minutes when the Dragons fielded to fully clear a right wing free kick and the ball was slotted through for sub Mark Newsam to hammer his shot across Williams and inside the far post.

Wrexham didn't give up and Johnson won a corner with two minutes left, but Warrington was comfortable in collecting the flag kick.

It was a much more resolute display by the Dragons, certainly compared to last week's dismal defeat at the hands of Brentford, but we all know that the manager will hope to busy in the January transfer window.

Rotherham United: Andy Warrington, Marc Joseph, Ian Sharps, Graham Coughlan, Stephen Brogan, Ian Ross, Pablo Mills, Danny Harrison (Dale Tonge 43), Chris Grady, Derek Holmes (Jamie Yates 86), Ryan Taylor (Mark Newsam 70).
Subs: Mark Oxley, Andy Todd.

Wrexham: Anthony Williams, Wes Baynes, Steve Evans, Richard Hope, Ryan Valentine, Sam Aiston, Mark Jones (Josh Johnson 79), Matty Crowell, Chris Llewellyn, Neil Roberts, Michael Proctor.
Subs: Michael Jones, Shaun Pejic, Gareth Evans, Mike Williams.

Referee: G Ward
Attendance: 3,773
Away: 185

Sent Off -
Wrexham: Crowell (13, foul)

Booking -
Rotherham: Sharps (foul)
Wrexham: Llewellyn (79, foul), Evans (88, foul)