Shrewsbury returned to the automatic promotion places in League Two with a win over Rotherham, who had two players sent off in 11 second-half minutes.

The Millers were down to 10 men on 59 minutes when Drewe Broughton picked up a second yellow card.

Then keeper David Stockdale saw red after bringing down Kevin McIntyre in the area and Grant Holt beat substitute keeper Steven Cann from the spot.

Shrewsbury missed more chances as they looked for a second against nine men.

"The first one was nothing," Millers boss Mark Robins told BBC Sport. "It was an innocuous challenge but he'd had been threatening to send him off.

"To be honest, I probably should have replaced him and thought about doing just that just seconds before he got sent off.

"As for the second one, Stockdale was unlucky as well. The lad's gone round him. But I want to have a look at the video before I make a comment.

"The main frustration is that, before that, I thought we were magnificent and controlled the game right to the moment we lost the first man.

"Ask them and they'll say they're relieved to have won with a penalty against nine men."

Shrewsbury manager Paul Simpson told BBC Radio Shropshire: "It was a test of our patience. Rotherham came to spoil it as much as they could."

Simpson also felt both dismissals were justified.

"The way Broughton was going it was only a matter of time.

"He got his first yellow card for a challenge on Grant Holt, and he got warned at the end of the first half for two or three more challenges.

"He was given every chance to calm down, but in the end I don't think he left the ref with any alternative.

"And when the goalkeeper brought Kevin McIntyre down as he was about to stick it in, then he had to go.

"It wasn't a great game of football - but we got our reward in the end."

Shrewsbury:

Booked: Langmead, Holt.

Goals: Holt 72.

Rotherham:

Sent Off: Broughton (59), Stockdale (70).

Booked: Broughton.

Att: 5,314

Ref: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire).

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