Jermaine Palmer and Martin Paterson were both on the score-sheet as the reserves ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against high-flying Rotherham United.

The Millers went into the game top of the league but never posed a threat to a City defence marshalled by the returning Gerry Taggert.

The experienced defender returned to competitive action for the first time since being sidelined with an ankle injury back in November and he went on to complete the full ninety minutes.

In a pacey opening to the game Lee Whittingham and Stephen Brogan both created half-chances for the visitors, while Jay Denny tested 'keeper Jonathan Hedge in the ninth minute.

Gareth Owen also made his comeback from injury in the game and he was influential in the opening goal which came after 14 minutes.

The defender disposed a Millers' midfielder before slotting the ball through to the pacey Paterson who rounded the advancing 'keeper and rolled the ball into the net.  

It was a neat finish to give the striker his first goal of the season for the reserves.

Paterson's strike-partner Jermaine Palmer, saw two efforts kept out by 'keeper Hedge before he got his deserved goal two minutes into the second-half.

The striker jinked past three defenders before coolly chipping the ball into the top corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.

The momentum was now very much with the Potters and when Robert Garrett saw his 20 yard chip rebound off the crossbar to the waiting Paterson, a third goal looked likely.

But the unmarked striker headed the ball from close-range straight at the 'keeper who eventually got two hands on the ball.

In the latter stages substitute Eric Graves had a goal-ward shot kept out by some last-gasp defending while Whittingham fired wide for the visitors.  

City: Foster, Smith (Quigley 76), Owen (Swift 45), Williams, Taggart, Keogh, Garrett, Denny, Palmer, Paterson (Graves 76), Hazley. Subs: Duggan, Francis.

Rotherham: Hedge, Mudd, Brogan, Bradford, Pritchard, Ludlam, Whittingham, Daws, Proctor (Kay 58), Newsham, Duncum. Subs: King, Taylor, Armstrong.