NEIL Lennon was not short on complimentary words after his side scrapped for a replay at Anfield at the weekend – here, his choice of language was a sight more coarse.

After the excitement of the FA Cup this dire display brought everyone crashing back down to earth with a bump.

Lennon’s half time admonishment could be heard echoing round the corridors of the New York Stadium, and it’s safe to say his full time assessment won’t have been much cheerier.

Liam Trotter and Matt Mills at least gave travelling fans something to cheer on a bitter night – but if Wanderers defend like this too often, it will be them and not Rotherham who are scrapping for Championship survival in May.

The Millers had just one win in 15 and fully deserved their victory but some of referee Darren Drysdale’s decision making had to be seen to be believed.

The last time Wanderers won in Rotherham, The Beatles topped the charts with Eleanor Rigby and The Yellow Submarine, and England was still basking in the glory of lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley.

Sadly, it quickly became evident Lennon wouldn’t be singing a happy tune last night, and the 4-2 scoreline would not be one to celebrate.

With Emile Heskey injured and new signings Adam Le Fondre and Rochinha unavailable, Lennon brought in Bromley Cross Academy graduate Andy Kellett for his first-ever start for his hometown club.

Lennon persisted with the five-man defence which has worked so perfectly at the weekend.

But it took the Millers just two minutes to do what Liverpool failed to do in 94 at the weekend – as Tim Ream lost out in a challenge 30 yards out, the ball falling nicely for winger Conor Newton to swing a cross in from the right, volleyed home by Ben Pringle at the far post.

The three central defenders who had stifled the intricate possession play of Phillipe Coutinho and Co were struggling rather more with the agricultural methods of Conor Sammon and Kari Arnason.

Lennon’s mood had already been agitated on several occasions, not least when referee Drysdale over-ruled his assistant in the award of a corner, sparking a furious row between the Whites boss, the fourth official Chris Sarginson and Millers’ number two Paul Raynor.

But the red mist completely descended once his side had gone two behind – Dorian Dervite’s indecision allowing Newton in again on the right and when Lonergan parried his shot, Sammon was there to prod it home.

At that point Wanderers briefly looked like settling the game down.

They still struggled to make a dent in a deep-lying Rotherham defence, their best effort coming from distance as Neil Danns rifled a shot over the bar.

But the game turned a few minutes before the interval as Josh Vela picked the ball up in the right channel and drove into the penalty area before being bundled to the floor by Richie Smallwood.

The home defence stopped, expecting a penalty but ref Drysdale waved away the appeals, setting in motion a Rotherham counter which ended with Paul Green adding in a third at the near post with a superbly-timed header.

At half time, those who sought refuge from the cold in the press room could hear just how annoyed Lennon really was – the walls shaking with his every booming word.

Matt Derbyshire missed an easy fourth and was then denied by some superb goalkeeping by Lonergan – who must have wondered what happened to the side he left behind a fortnight ago. The former Blackburn striker got the goal he deserved, however, capitalising on an ever-retreating Bolton back four to smash a shot into the top corner.

Sammon nearly made it five and, at that point, it looked like the scoreline could be as convincing as the home side wanted it to be.

Lennon had once shipped six as a manager at Celtic but that was at the Nou Camp; this was Rotherham for crying out loud.

Liam Trotter came on for Kellett – whose full debut was not a memorable one – and added a little more punch.

Indeed, only a fine block from Miller’s keeper Adam Collin prevented Feeney from pulling back a consolation on the hour.

Then 14 minutes from time auxiliary striker Matt Mills chested down a long ball for sub Trotter to pass the ball into the net and a few minutes later Mills leapt highest to head a bouncing ball past Collin and bring a semblance of respectability to the scoreline.

Any suggestion of a comeback was quickly stifled out, although Lennon’s touchline tirade resumed when Darren Pratley was hacked down in the box only for the appeals to be waved away.