Crewe Alexandra 0-2 Rotherham United

Michael Smith scored twice as Rotherham went back to the top of League One with victory at lowly Crewe, in a match which saw a lengthy hold-up in play after an assistant referee appeared to be hit by a missile.

The Millers took a seventh-minute lead through a Smith header and, after Crewe midfielder Scott Robertson was red carded, the striker made the three points safe with a set-piece second to take his tally for the season to 21.

Crewe had only one of their four new signings on show, German striker Bassala Sambou, who made a 75th-minute appearance as a second-half substitute.

Paul Warne's side went ahead when Ramani Edmonds-Green picked out Smith's run in behind with a lofted cross which the striker headed in.

Shane Ferguson drove a long-range effort inches over and Smith flicked a corner onto the underside of the bar - but Crewe posed a threat, only to be let down by their finishing.

Chris Long lashed over after wriggling clear and then wasted some good approach work on the left by going for goal from a difficult angle with Millers keeper Josh Vickers making a routine save.

Then came the incident involving the linesman close to where the Rotherham fans were based, after which Millers skipper Richard Wood went over to talk to the supporters.

The hosts' hopes were dashed on 73 minutes when substitute Robertson - booked earlier in the second half - tripped Chiedozie Ogbene in full flight to receive his marching orders.

From the resulting free-kick a minute later taken by Dan Barlaser, Smith's close-range touch just edged the ball over the line for the Millers' second - and he went close to a hat-trick with a late header which drifted past the far post.

Report supplied by PA Media.

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