For the second week running, a City league game was settled by half-time.

But the boot was very much on the other foot this time as Rotherham pocketed the points with three goals in the first 35 minutes. They added a fourth in the closing stages but the contest had been settled.

And to add salt to the wounds of the 2,000 travelling fans, two of those goals came from former Bantam Gareth Evans .

Phil Parkinson’s side arrived at the New York Stadium with confidence high after three straight wins.

But they paid a heavy price for not closing down and giving Rotherham far too much room in the first half.

City made the worst possible start as Rotherham grabbed the lead inside the second minute. Michael O’Connor had time and space 30 yards out and his shot flew past Matt Duke’s right hand.

The visitors shook off the early blow to respond with some good pressure and took the game to the Millers, looking to use Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines on the flanks. Luke Oliver ’s shot was saved and Nahki Wells drove over from a James Hanson flick-on before they were further rocked by a second Rotherham goal after 24 minutes.

Evans fired home against his old club and then celebrated in front of the away end, jumping and punching the air to rub it in to the mass of travelling fans.

Reid almost embarrassed Scott Shearer with a cross from a short corner that the Rotherham keeper just managed to bundle clear. But City were far too open at the other end and Kari Arnason headed wide from the home side’s first corner.

But a third Rotherham goal ten minutes before the break left City with a mountain to climb. Ben Pringle picked up a loose ball in midfield, surged into space and beat Duke via the post.

Wells thought he had clawed one back just before the break but was ruled offside after Shearer had parried Nathan Doyle’s initial effort into his path.

Will Atkinson replaced Hines at half-time and Reid rattled an early shot not too far wide. But Rotherham still threatened to score more and Gary Jones nodded Kayode Odejayi’s header off the line from a corner.

Evans blazed over from another good chance created by Daniel Nardiello. Evans then almost caught City with a quick break but Oliver made a vital lunging tackle in the box.

Alan Connell came on for Wells and created a couple of chances but there was more danger at the other end as Duke saved from O’Connor.

And inevitably it was Evans who netted the only goal of the second half, beating Duke at his near post with four minutes left.