Ten-man Rotherham went down fighting as they lost their unbeaten home record to high-flying Portsmouth in a thrilling at Millmoor.

Portsmouth dominated the opening half and established a 3-1 lead by the break.

Vincent Pericard shot home from six yards after latching on to Matthew Taylor's cross to give Pompey the lead.

And the visitors doubled their advantage after Pericard passed for Bulgarian Svetolslav Todorov to sweep the ball home from short range.

Darren Byfield pulled one back with a headed goal for Rotherham before his team's afternoon went from bad to worse on the stroke of half-time.

Chris Swailes was sent off for bringing down Todorov and Paul Merson converted from the penlty spot to restore his team's two-goal advantage.

But it was a different tale after the break and the visitors can count themselves fortunate to escape with all the points.

Martin McIntosh and Darren Garner both went close with 25-yarders before the home side again reduced the deficit to one goal.

Millers boss Ronnie Moore replaced Chris Sedgwick with seven-goal striker Alan Lee and Byfield with John Mullin in a tactical switch that paid almost immediate dividends.

In the 71st minute Lee scored from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Gianluca Festa.

And the Millers almost grabbed a dramatic late equaliser but Paul Hirst's shot crashed against the woodwork.

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

Portsmouth: Hislop, Ritchie, Primus, Festa, De Zeeuw, Taylor, Diabate, Quashie, Merson, Todorov, Pericard. Subs: Kawaguchi, Harper, Robinson, O'Neil, Burchill.

Referee: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).