League One basement boys Port Vale gave their very slender survival hopes a boost with a narrow victory over relegation rivals Rotherham.
Jon Brady's Valiants bounced back from their 7-0 FA Cup quarter-final drubbing at Premier League side Chelsea at the weekend with a second successive home league win - for the first time in a year.
Ryan Croasdale marked his return from injury in style as he fired the hosts in front from the edge of the box, after Ethon Archer's shot was blocked, in the sixth minute.
Vale stopper Joe Gauci was then quick out of the blocks to keep out Millers top scorer Sam Nombe, who had been expertly played in by Cameron Humphreys.
Rotherham keeper Ted Cann was let off on the stroke of half-time as he slipped when coming out of his box, only for George Hall to strike wide from a tight angle with the goal at his mercy.
Lee Clark's Millers were the better of the two after the interval but Nombe squandered a brilliant chance when he headed straight at Gauci from close range at the back post.
Cann did well to tip Vale skipper Ben Garrity's header over before Gauci ensured the points with a late stop from Liam Kelly's header.
It is now six straight away defeats for the Millers, who are 11 points adrift of safety, with Vale three points behind.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Brady: ‘All in all, it was a team performance’
Clark: '18 points to play for'
