Home comfort is in short supply for City

But, just like so many before him, the young full back cannot come up with a solution.

Once again, City's season is threatening to unravel because of their awful form at Valley Parade.

To quote former Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore: away from home this lot look like Real Madrid - on their own patch, it's more Fray Bentos.

Five defeats in 11 home games in the league makes sorry reading: only 12 points picked up from a

possible 33.

You can have the best form in the world on your travels - and City's once again holds up to anyone in the division - but that means nothing if you cannot back it up at home.

Taylor was tipped off by a few of his new team-mates about the club's Achilles heel when he joined in the summer. Unfortunately the warning is panning out just as he feared.

"We know we weren't ourselves and can play much better than that," Taylor admitted after the latest demoraliser against a side who had last tasted

victory on September 10.

"The home form was mentioned to me when I came here and as the season has progressed it has become apparent. It's the million dollar question why.

"The manager was asking everyone if we feel

nervous at home but personally I don't feel any different. I'm not sure what the problem is collectively as a team.

"But only the players can come up with an answer in the next few games and I think we'll get over it."

Saturday was depressingly familiar territory for City fans. Remember previous encounters with Stockport and Brighton who, like Rotherham,

couldn't buy a win between them until they came

up against the Bantams?

The Millers had gone 17 games without a win - a rotten run which got Mick Harford the bullet last week. Alan Knill, put in temporary charge, thought an elusive victory had been on the cards in recent weeks.

Inevitably, though, it had to happen at Valley Parade.

And there can be no doubts that Rotherham thoroughly deserved it. They had the game's best player in Deon Burton and an organisation and enthusiasm about their play which suggested they were defending a three-month unbeaten run rather than the other way round.

After the zip and gusto of Tuesday night, City were plodding and pedestrian. Whether the effects of Southend and then extra-time had taken their toll, the home legs were heavy from the start.

Andy Cooke forced a good save from Neil Cutler early on before the game burst into life with an action-packed four minutes midway through the half.

Russell Howarth was blamed for Barnsley's decisive fourth goal in midweek but he atoned with a full-stretch save from Burton after 19 minutes.

Within 60 seconds, though, he was left rooted to the spot as the Rotherham hitman launched an audacious effort from 35 yards which bounced on the bar.

With their tails up, Rotherham forced a corner. Centre half Colin Murdock, whose bandaged head gave a passing impression of Terry Butcher minus all the blood, gave City a mighty scare when he thumped it against the woodwork.

Dean Windass hooked it away as far as the edge of the box but the defence were unable to clear their lines and Lee Williamson just beat Taylor to the loose ball to drill in from 15 yards.

It was the midfielder's first goal for the club - and his first in the league since February 2002. You didn't have to read the tea leaves to predict the outcome of this one.

But City should have squared things straight from the kick-off. Rotherham's heads were still in the clouds as the Bantams marched up field.

Ben Muirhead picked up a cross on the right and steered it back into the danger zone where Windass was all alone. Valley Parade readied itself to salute the end of his own goal drought but, instead of bulging the back of the net, his header thumped against the advertising boards.

Windass could not believe it; neither could the fans. And Rotherham, who have made an art form out of blowing leads this season, must have sensed this was going to be their day.

"That's one Deano will look back on and know he should have scored," said City boss Colin Todd. "But every goal-scorer loses that bit of composure at times.

"Andy Cooke has been playing regularly this season and only scored two goals, so that shows how difficult it is up front. But as long as we keep making the chances then there isn't a problem."

Windass saw a free-kick palmed away before the game dropped down a couple of gears as half-time approached. The whistle brought the inevitable jeers from the stands at another City no-show.

An angry Todd demanded greater urgency for the second half and, as they often do, City picked it up for a while.

Cooke, whose commitment can never be questioned, superbly rounded Murdock on the right wing before cutting back a cross for Windass but again his strike partner was foiled as his downward header was

athletically turned away.

City's midfield were finding it tough to stamp their mark on proceedings and Muirhead, who constantly found two men on his case, was hauled off on the hour.

But the home side found themselves two down before his replacement Lewis Emanuel had touched the ball.

It was a fantastic solo finish from Burton, who showed his Premiership pedigree by controlling with his back to goal, flicking the ball over his head and then dispatching it with a left-foot volley. But that did not save City from the anger of their

supporters.

They tried frantically to claw back something - Windass even took one of the corners as City chased any kind of lifeline.

Mark Bower had a good shout for a penalty waved away and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was inches over with a free-kick. But with 14 minutes to go, Danny Cadamarteri turned sharply and drove the ball against Phil Gilchrist's arm and referee Phil Joslin pointed to the spot.

It looked harsh on Rotherham, although Knill later admitted that he felt Murdock's push on Bower should have been given.

But it did give Windass the chance to finally get off the mark, even if his wait for a score from open play goes on.

City's leading scorer had to keep his nerve when his first attempt was pulled back for encroachment. Cool as a cucumber, Windass switched directions and nonchalantly chipped home again.

That should have been the signal for the cavalry charge. But it wasn't.

Todd threw on Steve Claridge for Cooke - a call that was loudly booed - but City carved only one more chance, with the veteran snatching at a near-post header in stoppage time and flashing it into the Kop.

And there was no sign of goodwill to all men as the final whistle heralded another rollicking from the supporters.

Todd criticised the stay-aways in midweek but this kind of show is hardly going to bring back people for more.