Steven Fletcher's double reboots Sheffield Wednesday at relegated Rotherham
Sheffield Wednesday rebooted their play-off challenge in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-0 win at relegated Rotherham.
A poor run of form had seen the Owls slip out of the top six but Steven Fletcher's first-half double set them on their way to just a second victory in eight games.
Their performance will not do a lot to ease supporters' nerves, but they did what they had to do to get past the Millers and move back into the play-off places after Fulham's defeat at Derby.
For Rotherham, who saw their return to League One confirmed at the weekend, it was a club record ninth successive league defeat. Nevertheless, interim boss Paul Warne is expected to get the job on a permanent basis, with an announcement due on Wednesday.
The Millers, playing with the freedom of a condemned side, were the better team in the opening 15 minutes and had a superb chance to break the deadlock.
Some clever play by Carlton Morris set Jon Taylor clear in the penalty area, but the winger curled his effort just wide of the post when he should have converted.
As ever with the Millers this season they were punished for failing to take their chances as Sheffield Wednesday forged a 19th-minute lead, though there was a strong suspicion of offside.
A neat passing move saw Ross Wallace get the ball on the edge of the area and he slipped it through to Fletcher, who was earlier in an offside position, to fire home at the near post.
It ended a 14-game drought for the Scotland international, who last scored in December, coincidentally against the Millers.
The Owls were by no means playing well and should have found themselves pegged back in the 42nd minute but Morris headed straight at Keiren Westwood from six yards out after Danny Ward's pinpoint cross.
They again made the Millers pay two minutes later as Fletcher headed in his second, as he climbed above Darnell Fisher from Jack Hunt's cross.
Fletcher almost bagged a hat-trick with the second half only seconds old when the ball broke to him just six yards out but he could not get enough on his poked effort.
After that there was little goalmouth action of note as Wednesday barely threatened a third and Rotherham never looked like getting back into it.
Wednesday's game management was on point, meaning there were no late scares as they remain unbeaten in the league at the home of their South Yorkshire neighbours since 1976.
Source: PA
