Report by John Patrick Heeley

Steve Bruce predicted that it would go to the wire for a place in the play-offs and he wasn't wrong. Rotherham came to the JJB Stadium for their first ever visit and went away with all three points and improved their chances of automatic promotion.

Their can be no complaints about the result as the visitors well deserved their win and restricted Wigan to only a couple of chances throughout the game.

Bruce again opted for a three man attack which included Neil Roberts replacing the injured Lee McCulloch to partner Simon Haworth and Lee Ashcroft.

Paul Dalglish played his last game of the season before starting a seven game ban for his two dismissals over the Easter weekend but don't be too surprised if Latics obtain his services on a permanent basis over the summer as they have already extended his loan period for a further month despite his enforced abstination from playing football.

The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute when Kevin Nicholls attempt to clear the ball out of defence fell at the feet of Rotherham midfielder KEVIN WATSON who hammered the ball past a helpess Roy Carroll and into the top corner from 25 yards out.

Rotherham almost doubled their lead just over ten minutes later when Richie Barker, in for the suspended Alan Lee, got the better of Stuart Balmer but with only the outcoming Roy Carroll to beat attempted to lob the ball over him only to see it go wide.

Wigan's best chance of the half came on 35 minutes when Neil Roberts set up Simon Haworth but his shot was blocked, amid cries for handball, by Millers defender Guy Branston.

Wigan were a whisker away from falling even further behind just before the interval when goalscorer Watson's corner found Rob Scott whose header seemed goalbound but for Darren Sheridan who cleared off the line to save Wigan, for the time being anyway.

Wigan made two changes at half time with Kevin Sharp and Peter Beagrie starting the second half in place of Steve McMillan and Lee Ashcroft but the swap did little to alter Wigan's game and it was Rotherham who turned up the tempo.

Simon Haworth was again denied an equaliser when he was put through clear on goal by Peter Beagrie. Haworth, with only the Rotherham keeper to beat, fired at goal but the advancing keeper did well to narrow the angle and get down to block from close range.

Darren Sheridan wasted a good chance with 20 minutes left on the clock when he stole into the area between two defenders and hit a rocket from 15 yards but straight at the keeper who gratefully received it.

Then six minutes later Rotherham landed the killer punch.

Richie Barker picked up the ball in acres of space down on the left flank and raced to the byeline before crossing into the middle of the area finding leading goalscorer MARK ROBINS who outjumped Stuart Balmer to nod over Carroll and into the back of the net.

Wigan never recovered and if truth be told it was Ronnie Moore's men who seemed more likely to add to their lead and on 85 minutes very nearly did courtesy of an error in judgement from man of the match Arjan de Zeeuw.

The Dutchman tried to clear from defence but only managed to find Robins who headed over Carroll who was off his line but luckily for Wigan the former Manchester United striker wasn't as accurate this time and his effort sailed narrowily wide of the post.