It’s Millers Time is paying tribute to a fantastic 2014 for Rotherham with a footballing advent calendar.
In each day of December, leading up to Christmas Day, we will look back at a game from this year.
Behind window number 10 is a James-Tavernier inspired home win in League One.
Behind window number 10 is a James-Tavernier inspired home win in League One.
Rotherham 2 Bristol City 1 (28/3/14)
Given Steve Evans has signed over 60 players in his two and a half years in charge of Rotherham, it would be some accolade to be rated as the best of those.
But James Tavernier certainly was a contender and he showed exactly why as his performance earned the Millers a vital three points which put them on the brink of play-off qualification and kept them in the hunt for automatic promotion.
The on-loan Newcastle right-back needed only 70 seconds to be the centre of attention as he picked up a loose ball from a free-kick and arrowed a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner past goalkeeper Frank Fielding.
Richie Smallwood and Kieran Agard had chances to extend their lead, but the Millers were pegged back after the break as City's Wade Elliott got in on the wonder-goal action.
The former Northern Ireland international was allowed time to advance on goal and from 25 yards and walloped a shot into the top corner that had Adam Collin grasping at air.
But Tavernier stepped up to the plate again, with another special effort.
After Fielding had been penalised for carrying the ball out of the area when kicking it, the Millers right-back whipped in a delightful free-kick into the top corner.
It was a goal fit to win any game and extended the Millers' unbeaten run to 15 matches.
Rotherham:
Collin, Tavernier, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz, Adams (Milsom 88), Frecklington,
Smallwood, Pringle (Vuckic 81), Agard, Revell (Davis 89)
Attendance:
8,607
One to remember: Tavernier nearly broke the net with his opening goal, after just 70 seconds.
One to forget: Despite needing only one point from their final seven games to seal a play-off spot, boss Evans still refused to publicly accept his side had it in the bag.
To find out which match was behind window number nine, click here.
