Aston Villa boss Dean Smith hails 'magnificent' second half performance in victory over Rotherham
Dean Smith hailed Villa’s “magnificent” spirit after they battled back to beat Rotherham with ten men and continue their surge up the Championship.
Second half goals from Jonathan Kodjia and Jack Grealish earned them a 2-1 over the Millers to go back up to fifth and further boost their play-off hopes.
Will Vaulks had earlier put the hosts ahead from the spot after Tyrone Mings was sent off for two bookings.
Smith said: “I thought we were magnificent in the second half. We can talk all day about the quality of our players.
“But this was about spirit. The work ethic, togetherness and the skill. We started the second half like a train.
“We got the penalty and Kodj stuck it in the top corner and it was break after break.
“I am not saying it was all one way traffic, they had throw ins and corners. We had to defend them and defend them well.”
Tammy Abraham had seen a 12th minute spot-kick saved before Mings was dismissed, his second booking for handball in conceding the penalty from which Vaulks fired the home side in front.
Smith felt the decision was harsh. He said: “For me there is too much inconsistency in decision making. They started better than us but I felt some of our players needed some more protection.
“Yes, it probably hits Tyrone in the arm so he gives a penalty but for me it was never a yellow card. I just don’t understand it. For me there has to be more consistency.
“The big thing for me was we needed to get emotional control in the second half. We felt the officials had let us down a bit and we had not performed anywhere near the levels we can. In the second half we got that.”
