Nottingham Forest took Rotherham to bits with three goals in the opening half but in the end Forest only just held on to the points as Ronnie Moore's Millers pressured a complacent home side in the second half.
Forest exploded into action on the second minute, when striker David Johnson scored his 11th goal of the session. His strike partner Marlon Harewood had a shot 15 yards out, which took a slight deflection off Darren Garner.
This was enough to force the ball on to the woodwork but unfortunately for the visitors the rebounding ball found the ever-vigilant Johnson two yards out and he slotted the ball home.
On 17 minutes Forest doubled their lead with a second. This goal like the first came from a Rotherham deflection. A pass from Johnson bound for Harewood was deflected by an outstretched Rob Scott into the path of German Eugen Bopp who shot past Mike Pollitt.
Forest dominated throughout the first half and with six minutes to go until half time Johnson scored his second and Forest's third of the game. Tight on the right Johnson fired home to give Forest a 3-0 lead.
A battered but determined Rotherham got one back with a minute to go in the half. A cross from Chris Sedgwick found Richie Barker who out-jumped Forest's defence to head downwards into the net.
Rotherham started the better in the second half keeping possession and pressuring a relaxed Forest and they reaped the rewards with a second goal, 13 minutes into the second half.
Again it was a towering Rotherham striker, Darren Byfield, who out-jumped the home defence to reduce the deficit to one goal.
Throughout the second half both teams defended with some caution turning a game into a competitive midfield battle with the yellow card count increasing to six.
Forest manager Hart confirmed his defensive tactics with 11 minutes to go when he brought on a defender for his top scorer Johnson and it was enough for Forest to hold onto the three points.
Nottm Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Brennan, Dawson, Walker, Scimeca, Williams, Bopp, Jess, Johnson, Harewood. Subs: Hjelde, Roche, Doig, Thompson, Reid.
Rotherham: Pollitt, Scott, Hurst, Swailes, McIntosh, Daws, Garner, Warne, Sedgwick, Richard Barker, Byfield. Subs: Gray, Robins, Beech, Monkhouse, Mullin.
Referee: J P Robinson (E Yorkshire).