Holmes sweet Holmes as Millers set the standard

DID the Millers flash a warning to the rest of League Two or just suggest that they look like being okay, after all, as they aim to halt the big slide?

Well, in view of what's happened the last couple of seasons, we'll hang fire on the first bit, although I don't doubt a few in this division will have sat up and taken notice at this.

As for the second bit, there was certainly enough evidence to offer reassurance to their followers that they aren't still sinking and that they can, given a fair wind, set sail with more confidence for calmer waters.

Perhaps in addition to encouraging the faithful, it will offer encouragement to those who have suffered such home pain in recent times and may, for now, have a watching brief and are looking for signs that things can only get better.

No-one, of course, will be getting carried away in the slightest on the back of one home win out of one home game (even allowing for the positive signs evident last Thursday night).

But this win should also be put in perspective.

Peterborough - with some big money spent for this level - arrived as everybody's red-hot favourites not just to go up but to win the division.

They'd started like a train, which included impressively dumping Championship Southampton out of the Carling Cup. So the word on the street was... big test for the Millers.

In fact, good judges were suggesting that this game would indicate where the new-look Millers might stand in their rebuilding, that they could measure themselves and how far they've got to go, against the team reckoned to be the best.

Well, 3-0 up at half-time might suggest something - and, if nothing else, that the Millers just could be a force to be reckoned with themselves.

But don't think, even then, that this was easy street.

Strangely enough, no matter whether the lead was one, two or three, this game was never quite over and Peterborough were never less than threatening.

There was clear evidence why they will be up there challenging

But, however much they kept plugging away to get back in it, Rotherham remained solid and strong and, overall, too much so for Posh.

I'd like to bet the Millers play worse than this and win more comfortably, and there may well be times when they lead 1-0 and it's more straightforward and less taxing in sorting matters out.

Of course, Peterborough had to keep going forward to try to rescue something, and if there was something in Rotherham's second-half performance that said they'd done the hard part and weren't going to throw it away, then that's understandable.

In many respects, they effectively closed Peterborough and the game out. By the time the impressive and lively Aaron McLean pulled one back, it was too late to do anything other than dent Rotherham’s winning margin.

With no suggestion of a hangover from Thursday night, the Millers seemed to have taken on board the Mark Robins’ message that this would be a big test.

And, also, that they’ve got to be up not just for tasty jam and cream cup ties but the bread and butter of the league - and the bread and marge ones as well! And the bread and dripping ones too!

Whatever this one was, Rotherham had a taste for it and were feasting on a goal in just seven minutes.

Derek Holmes was in behind defender Shane Blackett when he misjudged the skid and bounce from a long ball and the big striker slipped his shot under the keeper. It was a vital start in such a game.

Andy Todd had a goal disallowed for offside and the game remained vibrant and busy.

Then came a key moment when McLean was slipped clear into the area but Andy Warrington came out to divert the shot behind and prevent an equaliser.

Inside 60 seconds, Shwan Jalal was doing the same at the other end from Chris O’Grady after Derek Holmes set him up.

Danny Harrison, always involved, had a shot deflected narrowly wide before Rotherham put themselves firmly into the driving seat with two goals in three minutes.

On 32 minutes, Peter Holmes and namesake Derek set up O’Grady for a lovely measured finish, curved beyond the keeper’s left hand inside the post.

Then O’Grady found Peter Holmes who delivered a lovely cross to the far post and Derek Holmes buried the header.

Peterborough were stunned but, even so, demonstrated how dangerous they could be by instantly setting up a chance Josh Low blazed over.

It is a long time since Rotherham have had the luxury of a three goal half-time lead and Peter Holmes went close to extending it ten minutes into the second half.

But Rotherham could never relax and although Peterborough never built any sustained pressure, the visitors kept plugging away and Warrington had to make a fine save from Dean Keates.

O’Grady seemed to have good claims for a penalty against Keates as he was about to shoot but it was the visitors who had the last word.

Firstly Warrington denied sub Rene Howe with 10 minutes left before McLean, who twice from first-half corners had shown a remarkable spring for a small guy, leapt to head a consolation from a corner.

With Marcus Bean making an effective full debut in midfield for hamstring victim Stephen Brogan, Rotherham were solidly efficient during and after the attacking potency of the first half.

Make no mistake, they beat a decent side who will cause teams problems at this level.

Millers fans won’t get carried away but can’t ignore the plus points their side set before them yesterday.Manager's view

An excellent performance and a great result but it's only worth three points, nothing more.

We stuck our chances away in the first half and knew it would be a different story after half-time, it generally is in that situation.

But after the week we've had, a hard game on Thursday and just a couple of days to prepare, they've given everything.

I thought we looked strong and solid and they were a threat all day, especially (Aaron) McLean.

Graham Coughlan won't come up against a more difficult opponent this season. It was a great header at the end.

But we limited their chances, we kept on probing and should have had a penalty. We've sent the fans home happy from the first home game (in the league) and I know that they were hoping we'd do that.

Posh

boss Darren Ferguson: "We've had two good home wins but I've learned more about some players today.

"I thought we were poor but I'm taking nothing away from Rotherham - they were good and deserved it."