Rotherham United 2-0 Birmingham City: Richard Wood double earns Millers win over Blues
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Defender Richard Wood's double takes the 37-year-old's tally to three in five league games this season
A goal in each half by captain Richard Wood earned unbeaten Rotherham a second Championship win of the season and inflicted a third loss in six league games on a lacklustre Birmingham.
The Millers outplayed Blues in the first half and Conor Washington went close before Wood's headed opener, while Chiedozie Ogbene also shot wide as they looked for a second.
Blues offered almost no attacking threat before the break, managing no attempts on target and not forcing a single corner.
They improved marginally after the interval, but Rotherham continued to look the better side, with Dan Barlaser missing a penalty before Wood's close-range effort made it 2-0 for a deserved victory - their 15th in their past 21 home league matches.
The second period brought more goalscoring intent from Blues inside the first two minutes than they managed for the entire first-half, with Scott Hogan hitting the post and Juninho Bacuna shooting over from the rebound.
But Rotherham remained sharper, more dangerous and by far the more cohesive of the two sides.
Birmingham goalkeeper John Ruddy made several excellent saves, including tipping Grant Hall's goalbound header over the bar from Cohen Bramall's corner with the scores level.
But he was powerless to prevent the opener when Bramall and Barlaser combined and the latter's divine cross was powered home from close-range by Wood.
Another teasing Bramall cross almost brought a fifth goal of the season for Ogbene, who then won a penalty after the interval when he was pulled back in the box by Mitchell Roberts.
Ruddy made another superb stop and also denied Washington to keep alive hopes of a comeback but a second Rotherham win over Birmingham in 18 attempts never looked in doubt and was confirmed when Wood doubled his tally after a corner was not fully cleared.
Rotherham manager Paul Warne:
"I thought we were really good from the start. I can't have many complaints. We caused Birmingham a lot of problems. I don't think many people could leave the stadium and not think we were deserved winners.
"I am really pleased with the lads. They are just a really good group and, when you're winning games, everything is rosy. I am really pleased with the start. Winning at this level is always hard.
"I could wax lyrical about Woody all day. He was a player here when I was the fitness coach. Every year people write him off but that has been happening for six years. It's just lovely to watch. I get emotional when Woody scores because it means a lot to him. I am really proud to have him as our captain.
"Missing the penalty I have no issue with. Dan will probably take the next penalty because he's a great penalty taker."
Birmingham head coach John Eustace:
"We are really disappointed in the result. We frustrated them for the first 25 minutes. I felt we were okay and not under any pressure.
"We knew they are very good on set-pieces. We worked very hard on that this week. So to concede the way we did was very, very frustrating. Goals change games. We got in at half-time 1-0, which we were relieved with.
"The two goals that we conceded could have been stopped. It's about defending the box with your lives and we did not do that."
"We need to improve the squad but until that happens we need to get on with it. Everyone can see the squad does need help. It's a very difficult job bringing players in."