Bristol City 3 Millers 1

Two David Noble goals helped put Bristol City on their way back to the second tier of English football after an eight-year absence, but he didn't see out the match.

In a season he has spent grappling for fitness, Noble was replaced after a full-throttle hour but not until he had earned his man-of-the-match award.

This was a game City had to win to make certain of automatic promotion and they needed an early goal to settle their nerves. Noble, with sharp runs into the Rotherham half was their man.

Back from injury

His first goal came on eight minutes when he chased down Neil Cutler's punch-out from their third corner. A volley high into the net gave City the lead they so much wanted, but having got there they lost their way for a time in midfield.

Their play-maker, Lee Johnson, was troubled by an ankle injury and after half-an-hour his father, manager Gary Johnson, took him off.

Before the switch his keeper Adriano Basso had been worried by two free-kicks which had produced a header from Craig Fleming and a sharp, short shot from Marc Newsham.

With Cole Skuse plugging the gap in midfield, relegated Rotherham's ability to break through was slowly snuffed out. But that hardly prepared a sell-out play for Noble's spectacular second strike in the 44th minute.

Rotherham centre-back Ian Sharps missed a header and, as the ball bounced away, Alex Russell trapped and slipped it forward. Taking it in his stride Noble accelerated away from the defenders and from 18 yards slotted his goal past Cutler.

Off injured

Fleming (right), who had injured his suspect ankle, was replaced in Rotherham's defence for the second half by 19-year-old Nathaniel Kerr.

Ten minutes later a Kevin Betsy header opened the way for Russell to run a shot wide of Cutler's right hand.

City knew they were up but were still unhappy to concede a goal to Newsham as he netted with a well placed header into the corner, giving the loyal Millers fans - in fine voice all afternoon - a goal to cheer.

The game ended with a predictable mass pitch invasion, and both sets of fans staying behind for a good hour after the final whistle with plenty of well wishes and shirt swapping taking place as the season concluded in very contrasting circumstances for both sides.