David Johnson continued his superb scoring run with a first-half brace - but Forest had to hold off a brave Rotherham fightback at the City Ground.

Johnson's double - either side of Eugen Bopp's goal - took his tally for the season to 12 and gave Forest a three-goal lead.

The home side looked to be cruising to their third win in four games.

But Richie Barker gave Rotherham a lifeline just before the break before Darren Byfield's 59th-minute goal set up a tense finale.

Forest took the lead with the first chance of the game when Eoin Jess was fouled by Chris Swailes out on the left.

Riccardo Scimeca swung in the resulting free-kick, the ball deflected off a Rotherham defender onto the crossbar, and Johnson was left with a simple tap-in for his fifth goal in three games.

It was all Forest in the early stages - and they deservedly grabbed a second in the 18th minute when Bopp struck a powerful right-foot shot into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.

Bopp, one of five players to be booked in the first half, turned provider in the 39th minute when his cross was headed home at the far post by Johnson.

But the Millers gave themselves a glimmer of hope just before half-time when Chris Sedgwick's cross from the right was powerfully headed home by Barker.

Ronnie Moore's men were a much improved side after the interval and went close through Warne and Barker, while Harewood flashed a shot wide for Forest.

Rotherham pulled another goal back just before the hour when Byfield pounced from close range after Swailes had headed the ball down.

The Millers then almost snatched a point in the 75th minute when Warne's cross found Nick Daws, but his shot was brilliantly tipped round the post by Darren Ward.

Nottm Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Brennan, Dawson, Walker, Scimeca, Williams, Bopp, Jess, Johnson, Harewood. Subs: Hjelde, Roche, Doig, Thompson, Reid.

Rotherham: Pollitt, Scott, Hurst, Swailes, McIntosh, Daws, Garner, Warne, Sedgwick, Richard Barker, Byfield. Subs: Gray, Robins, Beech, Monkhouse, Mullin.

Referee: J P Robinson (E Yorkshire).