FOOTBALL: Martin has 'em smartin'

MARTIN BUTLER silenced the Walsall boo-boys with a late strike to sentence his former club to defeat.

The Rotherham striker had been forced to endure a torrent of abuse from travelling fans.

But Butler, who launched his career at Walsall, had the last laugh when he pounced to fire John Mullin's low centre past Jimmy Walker from inside the six-yard area.

It sealed a thoroughly deserved win for the relegation-threatened Millers after Chris Swailes had opened the scoring in the 67th minute.

The ex-Ipswich defender blasted home from close range after Martin McIntosh had headed Carl Robinson's corner into his path.

Up until that moment the Saddlers had looked set to stretch their unbeaten run to four games after had wasted two earlier chances to the amusement of Walsall fans.

The debt-ridden Millers desperately needed a win to lift flagging spirits after this week's announcement they are pounds 1.6m in the red.

Yet Rotherham found themselves being jeered off by their own fans at the end of a shocking first-half.

Chances were at a premium with Walsall failing to test 21-year- old keeper Gary Montgomery - making only his third start at this level - once during the 90 minutes.

The closest they went to finding the net was Steve Corica's shot from distance after the interval.

Paul Merson was the best of a bad bunch but even the ex-England star's dominant midfield presence failed to inspire those around him.

Rotherham did all the pressing with Butler having a fourth minute shot turned over the bar by long-serving keeper Jimmy Walker moments after Paul Warne's header had rebounded off the woodwork.

And Butler was again the guilty man when he failed to find the target three minutes before the break.

Indecision in the Saddlers' defence had paved the way for the ex- Reading hot-shot to have a crack from 20-yards.

But Butler was left holding his head in his hands as his effort narrowly missed the target with Walker frozen to the spot.

However, goals by Swailes and Butler earned the home side back-to- back league wins at Millmoor for the first time this term.

It might have been worse for Walsall as they defence went missing in the closing minutes.

The Saddlers were all at sea as Sedgwick thundered a shot against the post.MAN OF THE MATCH JIMMY WALKER

Brilliant one-handed save to deny Butler.

ROTHERHAM: Montgomery 6, Shaun Barker 7, Hurst 6, Swailes 6, McIntosh 7, Sedgwick 6, Robinson 6, Mullin 6, Warne 7, Byfield 6, Butler 6.

WALSALL: WALKER 7, Hay 6, Dinning 6, Roper 6, Vincent 6, Corica 6, Emblen 6, Samways 6, Wrack 6, Birch 6, Merson 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Moore 6, Lee 7.

REFEREE: E Ilderton 7.

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