Rotherham United 2-1 Norwich City: Millers pull off surprise win over Canaries

Dexter Lembikisa fired Rotherham ahead against Norwich

Rotherham United pulled off the shock result of the day in the Championship to end Norwich City's unbeaten start to the season.

The game was billed as the meeting of the division's leakiest defence and the most prolific attacking team, but first-half goals from Dexter Lembikisa and former Canaries striker Jordan Hugill put the Yorkshire side in control.

Norwich rallied in the second half and replied through Christian Fassnacht, but the home side held on for their first win of the campaign.

Rotherham were unfancied going into the game after three straight defeats, and had only won one of their previous 17 meetings with the Canaries.

A bright start saw them firmly in control by half-time, however, as Wolves loanee Lembikisa crashed a shot into the top corner from outside the box after he was teed up by Fred Onyedinma's header from a long throw.

Five minutes before the break Matt Taylor's side doubled their lead as Cafu deliciously crossed and Hugill, signed from Norwich in January, got on the end of it to head home.

David Wagner's team improved after the break and just five minutes after the restart Jonathan Rowe danced down the left and picked out Switzerland winger Fassnacht to halve the deficit.

The home fans feared the worst but the Millers dug deep and when Przemyslaw Placheta sliced a great chance for an equaliser horribly wide with a minute of normal time remaining, Matt Taylor's Rotherham were home and dry.

Rotherham manager Matt Taylor told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We deserved it. We have played well enough at times this season to have got more points than we have.

"First half was as good as I've seen us, certainly in terms of attack against such a strong team. We knew they were going to come back at us and we were disappointed to concede when we did because it just changed the air in the stadium.

"We want to be aggressive at home, and we were. At times it leaves you open against good teams but it gets us on the front foot, gets us up the pitch and allows us to work set-pieces.

"It was a big moment to get those three points. It's been coming but on the back of Tuesday night [6-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Stoke] we were feeling pretty bruised."

Norwich manager David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"In the first half unfortunately we were miles off. Too many players below-par, we were not energetic as we normally are, and didn't compete physically in the battles as well.

"The second half was much better and we scored but weren't able to use further opportunities.

"It's a defeat that hurts. I am disappointed and angry as well because it was a defeat we conceded only because of us. We didn't play to our strengths in the first half - no runs in behind and we never came in the red zone as a threat.

"We spoke at half-time about how we tactically had to change something but first and foremost they had to change their focus and concentration. Both changed and we played well, but not enough to win the game.

"This is a reality check for us. Everyone has seen how difficult it is to win games in the Championship."