Rotherham United 0-2 Southampton: Saints climb back into automatic promotion spot

Southampton have not lost in the league since September

Southampton moved back into the Championship's automatic promotion places with a comfortable win at bottom club Rotherham.

The Saints extended their club record unbeaten run to 21 matches after goals from Jan Bednarek and Adam Armstrong had them cruising by half-time.

The Saints eased off in the second half, and handed a debut to on-loan Bournemouth man David Brooks, but the win was accentuated by promotion rivals Ipswich's defeat at Preston.

Their 16th loss of the season means Rotherham, facing Southampton in the league for the first time since the 1965-66 campaign, have now won just once in their past 18 games and are 12 points adrift of 21st-placed Huddersfield.

Saints' victory at Swansea a fortnight ago had set the new unbeaten record but they were in no mood to let up, especially with Ipswich now showing vulnerability having held a top-two place since September.

Southampton had lost four in a row at that point, but have now not tasted defeat since 23 September, and they were never in danger at New York Stadium.

They were ahead after just four minutes as defender Bednarek, playing his 200th game for the club, cleverly looped a header over a packed penalty area after a Stuart Armstrong corner had been flicked on at the near post and ricocheted off a defender into his path.

Rotherham may have taken some comfort from the history books, as they had won their past four at home against the Saints, but they were lucky to survive to the break with just one more goal being put past busy keeper Viktor Johansson.

The big Sweden international has, at times, been fighting a one-man rearguard action for the Millers in the past two seasons, although he was grateful when Ryan Fraser's 25-yard drive twanged off a post after flying past him.

Johansson was soon back to keeping his side in the running, racing off his line to deny Stuart Armstrong after Che Adams' through ball had sent the midfielder clear.

It could not last, and Southampton doubled their lead with a classic second goal as Taylor Harwood-Bellis' excellent pass found the run of Fraser. He drew the defence and then backheeled for Adam Armstrong to slide his 15th goal of the season under the keeper.

Johansson produced one of the saves of the season to turn away Will Smallbone's close-range shot, while at the other end Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu dealt with Seb Revan's shot as Rotherham managed a rare threat on goal.

With the game effectively won, Southampton took their foot off the accelerator but still coasted to their seventh win in the past eight league games.

Rotherham United manager Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"In the second half we were more competitive, more like us, but the start was disappointing.

"We conceded at a set-play three or four minutes in which obviously then gives them a lift on front of their fans, and it took us 20-odd minutes to gather our thoughts and be competitive.

"They are probably one of the best teams in the league, if not the best, so you expect a healthy challenge.

"You know Southampton are coming with fantastic international players but you have to compete, like we did in the second half, for the full game.

"In the first half our transition was poor. We could have caused them problems if we had looked after the ball more. In the Championship if you keep giving the ball away you will get questions asked against you."

Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:

"It was a brilliant performance. To make over 700 passes on a pitch like this, against a team that are fighting for their lives, and have really good performances and results against top teams in this division, is testament to the guys.

"The amount of care they showed for each other, to look after each other with the ball, was amazing.

"We spoke about the desire to do the horrible stuff, to defend the long throws, and the direct balls when the goalie is kicking it from the halfway line, and we had both today.

"We should have scored a couple more goals but the goalie made a couple of fantastic saves, as he did at our place, so that's probably the only frustration."