Rotherham 3, City 2: Peter Atherton was sent off as City's first league game in 2003 ended in defeat in breathless fashion at Rotherham.

City scored first and last through Claus Jorgensen and an Andy Gray penalty. But Martin McIntosh, Darren Garner and a spot-kick by Darren Byfield earned Rotherham the Yorkshire derby honours before Atherton got his marching orders.

Ashley Ward was back from a ten-match absence as City made their first league outing of 2003.

Ward, sidelined since being stretchered off at Brighton on November 2, was joined back in the side by Jamie Lawrence, who has been injured since Boxing Day.

Peter Atherton dropped back into the centre of defence with Mark Bower having to settle for a place on the bench. There was no Paul Evans among the subs after the Welshman yesterday joined Blackpool on a month's loan.

Ward was given an immediate chance to stretch his legs chasing a long ball by Gus Uhlenbeek. Home keeper Mike Pollitt got there first to clear the ball over the main stand.

But the game was only 100 seconds old when City grabbed the lead.

Claus Jorgensen pressured Martin McIntosh into a rushed clearance which Wayne Jacobs returned into the penalty area and JORGENSEN peeled away to volley neatly into the corner of the Rotherham net. It was the quickest goal City had managed all season and the third in successive league games by the in-form Dane.

Ward flicked a back-header over the bar as City continued the bright start to the noisy accompaniment of the away fans behind Pollitt's goal.

Rotherham had a great chance to level after six minutes when John Mullin's low cross caused panic in the six-yard box. Darren Byfield was denied but the ball broke off Uhlenbeek to Darren Garner who somehow managed to blast over from close range.

It was thrilling stuff from both sides as Rotherham pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Jamie Lawrence caught Paul Hurst very late by the touchline and was fortunate not to be booked. Garner's free-kick into the box was headed behind by Robert Molenaar for the first corner of the game.

Rotherham forced two more and Davison did well to nick the ball off the head of Chris Swailes at full stretch.

Uhlenbeek sparked another City attack with some quick footwork but Ward could not direct his header from the Dutchman's precise cross.

Jorgensen picked up the first yellow card for a foul on Garner after 20 minutes and Rotherham were level from the free-kick. Garner launched an in-swinger into the City penalty area and McINTOSH beat Davison with a diving header into the bottom corner.

The goal had been coming although it did not knock City out of their stride and Gray earned their first corner after persistence from Michael Standing and Jorgensen. McIntosh slipped as Jorgensen's kick came over but the Rotherham skipper still managed to knock it away off the floor.

City had an amazing escape on 38 minutes after an almighty scramble in the six-yard box.

After Davison had blocked Mullin's initial shot, Molenaar smothered Byfield's follow-up on the line. It fell loose to Garner whose cross was headed against the bar by Byfield.

The drama was far from over as Jacobs then turned goal-line hero before Uhlenbeek seemed to escape with a hand ball as City's goal continued to live a charmed life.

It was wild stuff and Davison pulled off another instinctive save to close down Mullin from a tight angle to keep City on terms.

With half-time approaching Lewis Emanuel suddenly found himself with room to cross from the left wing but his ball in bent behind Gray and the chance was gone.

Rotherham finished the half with another corner flashing across the City goal-mouth before referee Tony Leake's whistle gave everyone a much-needed breather.

HT: Rotherham 1, City 1

McIntosh and Pollitt got in a tangle to gift City a corner within 30 seconds of the re-start. Despite falling backwards, Ward got a head to it but there was no power to trouble the keeper.

But then Rotherham grabbed the lead with the softest of goals after 49 minutes.

There seemed little danger from a home throw-in when GARNER tried a shot just outside the box. The midfielder's shot was straight into the ground but took a ricochet and wrong-footed Davison.

The City keeper was completely non-plussed and did not have the time to recover as the ball rolled into the far corner of the net. It was a huge blow for the Bantams after they had seemed to survive the storm before half-time. But now Rotherham were sensing their first home win since November 9.

Right-winger Sedgwick was seeing more and more of the ball and teased Jorgensen and Jacobs to win another corner. Before it could be taken, Standing was replaced by Simon Francis.

City then gave away yet another penalty after 59 minutes as Byfield fell under the challenge from Molenaar. The Dutchman was booked before BYFIELD thumped home the spot-kick as Davison guessed wrongly.

Yet within a minute there was a penalty at the other end when Ward was pulled back by McIntosh as he tried to burst through on goal. GRAY elected to take it and kept up his 100 per cent record from 12 yards with a cool finish into the corner.

The Rotherham captain was booked for the professional foul - and was possibly lucky to stay on the field.

The thrills continued to come thick and fast as Mullin was thwarted from six yards by the busy Davison. Then Peter Atherton missed a clearing header and the ball dropped to Byfield who jabbed it wide from a dangerous position.

Atherton recovered with a strong covering tackle on Byfield who had slipped away from Sedgwick's long throw-in down the line. Both players tussled for possession and Byfield made a meal of it after going to ground.

Gray was needlessly booked for dissent as he threw the ball into the ground. The yellow card was a particularly costly one for City's top scorer because it was his fifth.

He will now be banned for the home game against Ipswich in a fortnight.

With 20 minutes to go, City were after a third and Gray's free-kick was glanced wide by substitute Francis.

The cards were beginning to fly and Atherton received City's fourth booking.

City's task became more difficult with three minutes left when they were reduced to ten men. Atherton was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Talbot.

As the game entered four minutes of added time, City applied the pressure and Jorgensen volleyed over from outside the area. But it needed a perfectly-timed tackle from Uhlenbeek to deny Byfield a fourth as he broke away.