Rotherham United 1-3 Cardiff City

Aron Gunnarsson and Matt Connolly celebrate at the final whistle in Rotherham

Rotherham remain only six points clear of the Championship drop zone as Cardiff enjoyed their biggest away win of the season to make it four matches unbeaten on their travels.

The Bluebirds scored three goals in 11 minutes as they moved up to 13th in the table.

Bruno Ecuele Manga headed home the first before Federico Macheda volleyed into the net from over his shoulder.

Conor McAleny drilled in a third before Danny Ward headed a late consolation.

The Millers are only one position above the bottom three, while Cardiff are over 10 points from the play-offs or relegation mix.

Rotherham's disappointment though was softened by Millwall's defeat at Middlesbrough, meaning they have not been dragged closer to danger after a first home loss in five.

On the back of a vital win against the Lions on Saturday, the hosts started well with Matt Derbyshire having a goal ruled out for offside.

Their positive opening was undone though as Cardiff secured victory with a quick-fire treble before the break.

Cardiff were forced to change goalkeepers at the interval, with Simon Moore coming on for the injured David Marshall, but Rotherham failed to force him into a save until the 76th minute.

Instead it was the Bluebirds who looked the likeliest to add to their lead, with home goalkeeper Adam Collin producing a fine double save to deny Aron Gunnarsson and then Alex Revell.

Ward headed home Hammill's cross five minutes later but it was scant consolation.

Rotherham boss Steve Evans: "We don't live in a false world here where we think we are going to come back from three goals down like Roy of the Rovers does.

"There's a key moment in the game where the goalkeeper spills it and the referee gives a foul when the DVD shows it wasn't a foul, so these are big decisions tonight.

"I'm not here defending my team based on decisions but decisions change games don't they? If the officials can't get simple decisions right then deary me, what are we supposed to do?"

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade: "We had to weather a little bit of a storm in the first 10 minutes. We did that and got the ball down, created some good opportunities and we took them.

"If you looked at the chances and opportunities, even in the second half, I thought it was a really good away performance. I thought we made the right decisions.

"Secondly we were ruthless in the final third when we had to be. I think it's a good sign going forward. When those opportunities came we took them and took them really well."