WANDERERS succumbed to their first home defeat to Rotherham United for more than 30 years thanks to a quickfire first-half double from Ben Wiles.

With more than 20,000 packed into the UniBol for Bolton’s Family Fun Day there was an upbeat mood around the ground – one which continued into the game as Ian Evatt’s side made a fine start to the game.

But after Wiles plundered two well-taken goals within three minutes of each other midway through the half, Rotherham did enough to protect their advantage and take three points home from this neck of the woods for the first time since 1990.

Wanderers had impressed on home soil against Burton – a night where the refereeing had taken centre stage – and wiped the floor with Ipswich Town, but found the canny and physical Millers a very different proposition.

The damage was done by two Rotherham goals in three first-half minutes, at a stage where Evatt would have been relatively happy with the way his side had played.

Within the first few minutes Antoni Sarcevic and Dapo Afolayan had shots blocked and George Johnston had put a header over the top.

At the other end, Wiles missed a good chance to open his account earlier, blasting over the top from 10 yards out, and Oliver Rathbone had a long-range effort pushed away by Joe Dixon.

Wanderers grabbed control of the game again and Sheehan went close, scooping a shot at goal after neat work from Doyle and Sarcevic, but again Rotherham got bodies in the way.

Out of the blue, Wiles put his side ahead with an inch-perfect effort from the edge of the box.

The Yorkshire contingent in the South Stand hardly had time to calm down by the time Wiles struck again, this time sending a precision header past Dixon from Dan Barlaser’s corner.

Wanderers responded well and after Sarcevic and Afolayan both had half-chances, Doyle bounced a golden opportunity off the base of the post from close range which felt like a costly miss.

Gethin Jones then had two chances within a couple of minutes to get his side back into the game, heading wide from a corner and then failing to get a good connection on his shot after good build-up from Sheehan and Afolayan.

Johnston thought he had got Bolton going when he headed in from a corner, only for his celebrations to be cut short by the linesman’s flag.

Rotherham went more defensive after the break, looking to protect their lead. As a result, the chances slowed down and the frustration grew for the men in white.

Isgrove fired a cross along the goal-line, inches away from Doyle’s out-stretched boot and Johnston then sent an acrobatic volley wide from Sheehan’s free kick.

The visitors – now playing five across the back- made sure the second half was played at a snail’s pace compared to the first and though Evatt tried to alter the balance of his own attack by throwing Elias Kachunga on for Antoni Sarcevic, the creativity they had showed earlier in the game started to fade.

Tempers started to boil over in the latter stages, with Evatt and Millers assistant boss Richie Barker booked by referee James Bell after a series of arguments in the technical area.

Even seven minutes of added time failed to give a route back into the game for Bolton, who will look to make amends when they visit Sunderland next weekend.