Football: HOT ROD IS GILLS' HERO

ROTHERHAM battled hard and made their point thanks to veteran Rod Wallace - but the real battle involved boss Ronnie Moore.

Rumours were rife that he is on his way to Ipswich to replace the sacked George Burley.

But the in-demand manager may also have a choice of neighbouring Sheffield Wednesday, if they sack boss Terry Yorath, or manager-less Stoke, whose boss Steve Cotterill has gone to Sunderland as Howard Wilkinson's number two.

Moore took a standing ovation before and after the match - and his Miller men got off to a dream start.

Winger Chris Sedgwick's tricky low cross looked to be well covered by keeper Jason Brown.

But the keeper, wearing the unlucky No 13 shirt watched in horror as defender Barry Ashby raised a leg, the ball ricocheted off his knee and into his own net.

Full marks to Gillingham, though, as they clawed their way back just three minutes later, courtesy of old boy Wallace.

Hard working strike partner Guy Ipoua managed to square the ball on the deck from just outside the keeper's box and Wallace simply side-footed home.MAN OF THE MATCH ANDY HESSENTHALER

Midfield general in command throughout.

ROTHERHAM: Pollitt 7, Scott 6 (Mullin 6), Swailes 7, McIntosh 7, Hurst 6, Sedgwick 7, Garner 6, Daws 7, Warne 6, Lee 7, Byfield 6 (Monkhouse 6).

GILLINGHAM: Brown 7, Ashby 6, Hope 7, Perpetuini 6, Nosworthy 6, HESSENTHALER 8 (James 6), Smith 7, Saunders 6, Shaw 7, Ipoua 7, Wallace 7.

MANAGER RATINGS: Moore 7; Hessenthaler 7

REFEREE: C Webster 7.

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