The 19-year-old Jamaica international, on loan from Wolves, blasted the Millers ahead before Jordan Hugill added a second.
Christian Fassnacht gave the Canaries hope but they suffered their first Championship defeat of the season as Rotherham celebrated a first win.
Norwich had the first chance of the game and it was carved out by Dimitris Giannoulis down the left wing but his cut-back was diverted wide by Gabriel Sara.
Luton loanee Fred Onyedinma came within inches of bagging his third goal in as many home games when he showed great skill in the box before rattling the post with a powerful effort.
The opener came from the next attack in the 22nd minute with a long throw falling towards Lembikisa who lashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Viktor Johansson was first brought into action by Ashley Barnes who tried to curl into the bottom corner from distance but the Swede got down well to save.
Rotherham were still having the better of the play and deservedly doubled their lead after 40 minutes when Hugill guided in a pinpoint cross from Cafu.
Norwich started the second half with more purpose and threatened when Sara’s low corner was poked just wide by Kenny McLean.
They got a goal back after 50 minutes with Jonathan Rowe supplying Fassnacht to poke in at the near post.
Rotherham could have restored their two-goal advantage with a counter-attack move led by Hugill and Cohen Bramall but Andre Green misjudged his header at the back post.
A deflected cross from Jack Stacey then posed problems for Johansson who would have been relieved to see it strike the outside of the post.
Cafu came agonisingly close to a third for Rotherham with a stunning curling effort after Ollie Rathbone had glided by McLean down the left flank.
Another big chance fell the way of Stacey but he could not get a solid connection on his strike.
Lembikisa had to do some last-ditch defending to block an effort as the visitors cranked up the pressure in the final five minutes.
Substitute Przemyslaw Placheta should have done better with an effort from Tony Springett’s centre but he could not get on top of his strike and it sailed off target.
The Swiss Federal Tribunal has ruled the Court of Arbitration for Sport does not have the power to deal with Cardiff’s claim for damages against Nantes.
Sala died when the light aircraft he was travelling in from France crashed into the English Channel in January 2019, two days after Cardiff had announced the signing of the 28-year-old Argentinian forward.
Nantes’ claim for the first six million euros (just over £5m) of the £15m transfer fee was upheld by CAS last August.
A statement from the Welsh club read: “The Swiss Federal Tribunal has decided the Court of Arbitration for Sport does not have jurisdiction to deal with Cardiff City’s claim for damages against FC Nantes.
“This is not a surprise and the club has already prepared separate legal action against them which will be started straight away.”
Cardiff maintain that “FC Nantes must be held responsible for the accident” which they allege was “organised by their agent”.
“This will be to recover what the club paid for Emiliano and additional damages for further consequential losses,” Cardiff added.
FIFA originally imposed a three-window transfer embargo on Cardiff after their failure to pay the initial instalment of the Sala fee.
The embargo was lifted after Cardiff paid the first instalment in January.
The Swiss Federal Tribunal said in its published judgement: “It appears that the procedural rules applicable to the FIFA CSJ (Player Status Commission, or Commission de Statut de Joueur) were designed to assure a rapid and inexpensive resolution of disputes.
“Article 25 of the RSTJ (Reglement du Statut et du Transfert du Joueustates) that the CSJ must give its decision in no more than 60 days and costs cannot exceed 25,000 francs.
“That objective would be compromised if it was determined that the CSJ was required to rule on any claim brought before it, including when this has no connection with football regulations.
“The CSJ, in its capacity as a judicial body specialising in certain aspects of football regulations, has neither the expertise nor the means to rule, as in this case, on legally complex issues with international elements unconnected to football.
“The capping of costs at a relatively low amount of 25,000 francs is a further indication that it is not the CSJ’s role to examine claims requiring wide-ranging aeronautical expertise to determine the causes of a plane crash.
“The (CAS) panel underlines that its own jurisdiction presupposes that the CSJ itself had jurisdiction over the claim invoked.
“In other words, when an appeal is made to CAS, it can only examine the claim for compensation if the judicial body called upon in the first instance, in this case the CSJ, was itself able to do so.”
In a game short of clear-cut opportunities, Yaser Asprilla and Matty Pearson came closest for either side, on an otherwise comfortable afternoon for both goalkeepers.
The draw extends Watford’s unbeaten league run to four, with Huddersfield earning their first clean sheet at home since mid-September.
Ken Sema almost unknowingly put Watford ahead after four minutes, getting his head- or rather his face – to a wicked deflected cross into the centre. The early half-chance whistled wide.
Huddersfield had the first meaningful effort of the game in the 27 the minute when Pearson’s left-footed shot was held by Dan Bachmann in the Hornets’ goal.
Sorba Thomas called Bachmann back into the action six minutes later, with the Watford shot-stopper getting down well to his left to deny the opener.
The visitors remained resilient, and Edo Kayembe’s whipped attempt asked questions of Huddersfield’s Lee Nicholls, resulting in Watford’s best effort of the half.
Less than a minute into the second period, the increasingly threatening Asprilla struck low and hard at goal, from a tight angle. A smart stop from Nicholls tipped the ball around the post.
As the heavens opened, Valerien Ishamel’s side injected a minor impetus into the game.
Jamal Lewis and Jeremy Ngakia both had promising shots blocked by the sturdy Town defence, including one by Michael Helik.
On 64 minutes, the John Smith’s Stadium began to wake up as Ben Wiles’ speculative attempt sailed over. Watford rushed up the other end and Jamal Lewis’ low shot kept Nicholls busy.
Hornets sub Imran Louza looked lively when turning from 25 yards out, but fired high and wide on 70 minutes.
With 13 minutes left on the clock, Mileta Rajovic rose well inside the Huddersfield penalty area, but could not quite connect with Ryan Andrews’ clipped cross.
In added time, Town almost snatched the winner with substitute Mattie Pollock drifting in behind, but unable to pick out a blue and white shirt in the middle.
Watford pressed for a dramatic winner, and if not for Josh Ruffle’s heroics, they may have found it. The Town sub flicking the ball away from underneath the crossbar.
The Sky Blues netted three times in the space of 12 second-half minutes, with Simms finding the target twice and Josh Eccles getting their other goal in a comprehensive win for Mark Robins’ side.
Kenneth Paal scored a consolation in stoppage time for the hosts.
The defeat continued a miserable run at Loftus Road for Rangers, who have won just once at home in almost a year and have lost four of their five matches there so far this season.
They were denied a first-half opener by City goalkeeper Ben Wilson superbly pushing away Lyndon Dykes’ glancing header from Paal’s cross.
Dykes sent another effort wide before the interval, but the visitors took complete control in the second half.
Striker Simms, signed from Everton during the summer, opened his account to break the deadlock after 56 minutes.
After Osman Kakay’s unnecessary foul on Jamie Allen, Jay Dasilva’s delivery into the box ricocheted off City’s Luis Binks towards Simms, who made the most of his good fortune.
Coventry also had luck on their side for the second goal, scored four minutes later – this time after a double deflection.
Matt Godden’s shot struck team-mate Joel Latibeaudiere to inadvertently tee up Eccles, whose shot took a deflection off Kakay to completely wrong-foot keeper Asmir Begovic.
City seemed to ride their luck once again when Rangers were not awarded a penalty, despite Wilson appearing to upend Sinclair Armstrong in the area just after the young striker had been brought on as a substitute.
And there was no way back for QPR after an emphatic finish from Simms made it three after 68 minutes.
Allen played an excellent ball in behind the R’s defence and Simms fired into the roof of the net.
Paal reduced the deficit after Armstrong pulled the ball back for the Dutch wing-back, whose goal was his third of the season, making him QPR’s top scorer.
Boss Robins will hope this fine win proves to be a turning point for last season’s beaten play-off finalists, who have endured a disappointing start to the Championship season.
However, the pressure is on his Rangers counterpart Gareth Ainsworth. Rangers were almost relegated under him last season and were widely tipped to struggle this term, with their home form a major concern.
The Danish striker put Preston ahead inside the first minute before setting up top scorer Will Keane and then forcing Bobby Thomas to put through his own net.
The remarkable victory took Preston on to the cusp of the play-off places, two points behind Hull, as North End leapfrogged Coventry in the process.
Preston captain Alan Browne played his corner to Ben Whiteman inside the first 60 seconds, and the cross was met by Riis.
The target man outmuscled Thomas and thundered home a header to claim his fourth in four outings after failing to find the net this season until 13 days ago.
When the 25-year-old then saw a shot blocked by Thomas he took full advantage of the dawdling Jay Dasilva and stole in to tee up Keane, who reacted fastest to sweep home his 12th of the season in the 20th minute.
The Sky Blues had failed to beat Preston in their last 20 league meetings dating back to 2007, and things went from bad to worse when star winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto was taken off on a stretcher after a heavy fall following a challenge by Andrew Hughes on the half-hour mark.
The Japan international had been one of two Coventry changes as he and Milan van Ewijk replaced Fabio Tavares and Victor Torp in the starting XI, while Ali McCann came in for Robbie Brady in a rare Preston change.
Coventry had only lost once at home since a 4-0 thrashing by Stoke last April and things looked to be heading that way once again when Thomas poked Riis’ cross past a helpless Ben Wilson.
Freddie Woodman produced a magnificent save to deny Callum O’Hare as Coventry looked to get back into the game shortly before the break, with Preston defenders coming rushing out to block Haji Wright’s follow-up.
In-form Ellis Simms was looking to make it three goals in three games but he was also denied by Woodman after a tame effort inside the box.
Mark Robins called on Jake Bidwell to replace Dasilva at the break and Van Ewijk was next to try and reduce the arrears, but Woodman stood firm to beat away his left-footed effort.
The Dutchman tested Woodman again when he almost squeezed a cross in at the near post, while substitute Torp stung the palms of the former Newcastle goalkeeper in injury time.
Latte Lath, a summer signing from Atalanta, moved into double figures for league goals this season with strikes either side of half-time as Boro extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Michael Carrick’s side have now kept five clean sheets in their last six games and head for rivals Hull on Wednesday night six points adrift of the play-off places.
Swansea are 15th in the Championship after a third successive game without a win. Last month’s 2-0 South Wales derby success against Cardiff is the only win in the last six for Luke Williams’ side.
They did have a couple of opportunities to get themselves in front early on at the Riverside, both falling to Jerry Yates.
The striker’s touch let him down when he was unmarked in the box and picked out by Ronald Pereira Martins, allowing Jonny Howson to sweep up and clear. And inside quarter of an hour, Martins again teed up Yates but the 27-year-old was not able to direct his header on goal.
Finn Azaz and Isaiah Jones both had openings for Boro but flashed efforts wide from inside the box.
Latte Lath was Boro’s liveliest player in the first half and he tested Carl Rushworth with a low early strike and called the keeper into action again with a strike from the edge of the box.
The Ivorian broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. He was first to pounce on a loose ball after Rushworth parried a Jones cross, but there was still plenty of work to be done. Despite the fact six Swansea defenders blocked the route to goal, the striker still managed to squeeze his shot in at the front post.
Swansea were almost gifted a leveller within two minutes of the restart. Dan Barlaser wanted too much time on the edge of his own box and as visiting attackers flocked around him, panicked and made a mess of an attempted backpass to Seny Dieng that flashed just past the post.
Barlaser again played Boro into trouble with a loose pass that was intercepted by Jamal Lowe. The forward charged towards the box and took aim for the far corner but Dieng was equal to it.
Swansea probed but struggled to create any clear cut chances and Latte Lath wrapped up the points 11 minutes from time when he cut on to his right foot and clinically found the top corner.
The former Manchester City coach was satisfied with the result, which saw Dewsbury-Hall score twice in 10 minutes late on to seal victory after Coventry captain Kyle McFadzean had put Mark Robins’ side ahead early in the second half.
Maresca revealed he had urged Dewsbury-Hall to get into the opponents’ area more.
The 24-year-old midfielder only scored twice as the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The result was a headed equaliser and a spectacular winner with three minutes to go.
Maresca said: “At the beginning when I came in, I checked the numbers of the players and I told him he has better quality to be able to score more and make more assists.
“The only way to do it is to arrive more often in the box. Kiernan scored here because he was there in the area.
“We are happy because he scored and we won and that’s the most important thing.”
Maresca also pointed to the fact that his team maintained momentum until the latter stages, despite Coventry’s constant threat.
The Italian coach said: “I told the players that Coventry was a team that almost won promotion in May. We needed to be mentally strong.
“So to be 1-0 down and then win the game, the guys showed a lot of great effort.
“We conceded a lot of goals from set pieces last season, I knew this before I came. We conceded again here and it was not easy to come back for us.”
Asked if he was concerned about the number of chances Coventry created, Maresca responded: ‘I’m always concerned. The feeling of winning was unbelievable, but we have to improve.”
Coventry manager Mark Robins predicted that Dewsbury-Hall will will be one of the top players in the Championship this season.
But he admitted there was a feeling of what might have been had his side taken more than one chance after creating so many openings.
Robins said: “If we’d taken one more, we might have won by two or three. We’re trying to be on the front foot and carrying a threat is something that’s really important to us.
“We had chances to score, but such is life, we’ve not taken them.
“I think Dewsbury-Hall is going to be one of the best players at this level. Someone also told me Leicester had £100million worth of talent on the bench – which is nice.
“It’s always disappointing to lose especially from a winning position but when you look at the quality of Leicester, there’s a lot of Manchester City in the movements.”
Maresca’s side had to come from a goal down before making sure of a result which put them back on top of the table before the evening fixtures.
Leicester gifted Norwich’s Gabriel Sara the opening goal from a corner, before responding with goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Stephy Mavididi and Jamie Vardy, a 77th-minute substitute.
Maresca’s relief came after a poor six-game run and he said: “It was especially for the moment, because for different reasons, we didn’t win so many games.
“So this was important, because we are in the final part of the season. But then we started by conceding a goal, and 1-0 down from a corner, we needed to be mentally strong.
“But after that, the game was completely in our control, we dominated.
“Probably in the last six games, we won one game and it was the one we didn’t deserve – Sunderland.
“We lost four games, and not one of them we deserved to lose.
“At the end, we are human beings – we have emotions so when we scored the last one with Jamie, the game was finished, so we were all happy and we enjoyed the moment.”
Maresca called for unity from the supporters in his programme notes, and he made it clear his style of football would not be changing, even though Leicester’s promotion credentials have been called into question.
The Italian coach added: “I think the fans were there, we tried to make them happy by winning the game. I can understand that, for them, it’s the only thing that matters
“But I know that sometimes they want us to attack, and be more direct, but it’s never going to happen while I’m here.”
Norwich manager David Wagner accepted that his side’s performance was not good enough as they chase a play-off place.
Wagner’s side’s form in their previous six games had only been bettered by Ipswich and Leeds.
But the German coach said: “We’re better than what we showed here. This is disappointing, but it can happen.
“I’ll quickly put this to bed because we’ll speak about the truth. I have so much trust and belief in the guys, I know they’ll have the biggest fire in their belly for the Ipswich game.
“The positives were that we scored a super set-piece goal, so credit to our set-piece department for that.
“But I felt we were well organised until their second goal. In ball possession though, we were below par. We’ve been better in recent weeks, but that doesn’t mean we should automatically have won the game.
“We not good enough to get some points out of this game. So we’ll work on it and analyse it.
“It was very clear that too many individuals did not do what they are capable of doing. But they are humans and for us to make sure that everybody is on the same page and our demands are higher than what we showed here.”
The Foxes had 21 shots on goal, but still suffered their first defeat of the season.
A 15th-minute goal from Liam Delap proved enough to give Liam Rosenior’s team victory.
Maresca felt Leicester should have made more of the game, but in the end, they only had one shot on target.
However, he said there was “no drama” following a result which saw Leicester knocked off the top of the table.
“We cannot think we’re not going to lose a single game this season,” said Maresca. “We’ve played seven matches so far, and you’d said to me at the start that we’re going to win six and lose one, I’d have accepted it.
“But we need to judge results, we probably deserved something more but it didn’t happen. So we keep going, it’s not a drama.
“We probably needed to be a bit more clinical when you shoot more than 20 times. But we started in the right way before they scored.
“Then we lost a little bit of control. In the second half, we were aggressive and in control. But sometimes this can happen. In the second half, there is nothing to say other then we needed to score.”
Hull manager Liam Rosenior said he would still have been “proud” of his side’s display even if they had conceded late on.
He said: “We came here with bravery, we were fearless and we wanted to play our way. We changed our press because Leicester are an outstanding team. But at the end, we were throwing our bodies on the line. We didn’t want Leicester to have any rhythm.”
Rosenior highlighted the performance of defender Alfie Jones as Hull frustrated Leicester.
“For a centre half to be asked to play against Kelechi Iheanacho one for one on the back line, he was immense, I don’t normally single out players, but his performance was everything I want from a centre half,” said the Hull manager.
“He was magnificent and it was a joy to watch him.”
But Rosenior also praised Delap for his second goal of the season.
He added: “He’s scaring the life out of defenders at the moment, I said it when we signed him, I think he suits this style of play.
“For me, he’s enjoying it here, he’s got so much work to do and there’s so much room for improvement in his game. But his physical attributes and his technical stuff is absolutely top. I’m so delighted he’s with us.
“I think we earned the result. When you come away from home, you don’t expect to get the rub of the green, but I felt a lot more decisions went Leicester’s way than maybe they should’ve done.
“We were better here with the ball, this result leaves us with in a really good place, we have aims and ambitions this season, but there’s a long way to go.”
The Foxes opened the scoring on the hour mark when Patson Daka finished from close range before the striker doubled the lead from the penalty spot five minutes later after he was fouled by Viktor Johansson.
On-loan midfielder Cesare Casadei sealed the points after 72 minutes with a diving header from Ricardo Pereira’s cross from the left to earn the Foxes a fifth successive league victory.
Maresca said: “I’m very happy, at the start of the season I didn’t expect to have this many points at the halfway stage, nobody expected that.
“Winning 19 out of 23 games is not easy but we have many things that we need to improve.
“We are learning how to play teams who sit and who play with a high press, it’s not easy. I was happy with the first half because we were doing the right things.
“We created three or four clear chances in the first half which is difficult against this type of team, when they sit back it’s complicated to find a solution.
“In the end we did the most difficult thing and scored a goal and it was easier after the goal.
“The target is to get promoted, we need to continue, we are almost in January, the players know if some of them drop (their levels) they won’t play.”
Rotherham are nine points from safety at the foot of the table and have failed to win any of their last 11 league matches having lost all three games under new boss Leam Richardson.
Richardson said: “It’s a challenging league and a challenging position that we’re in but one of the things we can guarantee is that we’ll make a right good fist of it.
“It’s my job to build a habit and instil a mentality within the training ground that filters out onto the pitch, if we do that, we’ll make a fist of it.
“You can go into any football club and have an ideal way of playing and what you want to do and force things on the players.
“The best thing to do is find the good attributes you’ve got within the group and try and bring them to the front as quick as you can and build from that platform.
“Every game we’ve got to try and deliver a performance, there’s a lot of work to do and a lot of things that need to happen to move forward.
“Everything is a habit, winning is a habit, losing is a habit, if you’ve got bad habits you’ll serve for them but if you’ve got strong habits they’ll come to the front and that’s what we need to change.”
Matt Grimes fired the hosts into a 20th-minute lead with a sublime volley, but Jannik Vestergaard fortuitously bundled into the net on the stroke of half-time to level proceedings with what was his first goal for the Foxes.
Second-half efforts from Abdul Fatawu and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho earned the visitors their 11th win from 12 Championship matches this season.
“I’m very happy because even at 1-0 down, the team continued in the same way. No panic,” said Italian boss Maresca.
“This for us is the most important thing. In the first half we were in control. We conceded some transitions, but even with that I think we were in control. We created chances.
“We deserved [to get to] 1-1. In the second half we continued to play the same way.
“The good feeling is that when we were 1-0 down, I can see for the players on the pitch that it doesn’t matter – continue, continue, continue. They can see that continuing that way, something is going to happen.”
Michael Duff was heavily criticised in the opening stages of the season as Swansea’s seven-game winless run ensured they made their worst start to a league campaign in 32 years.
But having won four consecutive matches prior to their defeat against the Championship leaders, Duff felt his side’s showing against the Foxes proved Swansea are a side on the up.
“I think we fell the wrong side of big moments in the game,” said Duff. “But the general performance I was pleased with. I thought the structure of the team looked good, the energy looked good and some of the quality was good.
“Ultimately, the supporters aren’t stupid and they clapped them off the pitch having got beat.
“The last time we got beat (at home) was against Bristol City and quite rightly the players got booed, because we looked nothing like we did today.
“If you are going to get beat, that’s the way to get beat. The lads gave me everything today. I think that performance would probably 90% of the time have beaten most teams in this league.
“So there were loads of positives. The attendance, the noise in the stadium – they came with the players. Other than the result, there were a lot more positives than negatives.”
Maresca has some adapting of his own to do, having left Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager to take over at the King Power, but the players who have remained following Premier League relegation have a big task on their hands.
The Italian inherits a squad which has lost eight players from last season, either released or sold – with James Maddison’s move to Tottenham not unexpected but still a huge blow – while the club are still in talks with Jonny Evans after his contract expired.
They have, however, been bolstered by the arrivals of Wolves centre-back Conor Coady and Spurs midfielder Harry Winks, which Maresca said was a “good signal from the club”.
“We need to adapt. The Championship, it’s different from the Premier League. If we don’t have that, it will be a bad thing,” Maresca, whose experience of second-tier football extends to playing 47 matches for West Brom between 1998 and 2000, told his first press conference.
“Personally for me it’s been difficult. Since I joined Man City we felt part of the family there but professionally, I had no doubts (about joining).
“Leicester is an important club, a Premier League club, but the reality is that we are a Championship club, and we have to adapt.”
The Foxes have at least been able to get some early business done in the transfer market and Maresca is keen to strengthen further.
But he insists long-serving striker Jamie Vardy will not be leaving despite interest from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, although he could not rule out further departures with winger Harvey Barnes attracting interest.
Asked if Vardy was staying he added: “Absolutely, yes. He is an unbelievable player. Hopefully he can stay with us.
“It’s difficult, when the market is open, anything can happen. Most of us are worried about what happens tomorrow, but we have to look forward.
“At the moment, seven players had their contracts expire, Maddison left, and some more players can leave.
“But at the same time, if players leave, we can bring in more players. The idea is to bring in our targets as soon as possible.”
The 48-year-old takes over from Sabri Lamouchi, who left the Championship club after his short-term deal expired at the end of 2022-23 season, and will be presented to the media on Monday.
German-born Bulut, a former Turkey Under-21 international who played for the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce and Olympiacos, coached Fener between 2020 and 2021 before taking charge of Gaziantep, who he left in January.
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan said: “This summer allowed us to consider applicants for the manager’s position from across Europe and, having taken our time with the process, I’m extremely confident that we have chosen the best candidate to take us forward.
“Erol has vast experience both as a player and as a manager, having played Champions League football and managed European sides across 200 League games to date. This level of experience is needed at this time and I think will prove invaluable to the squad.
“His excellent record in European football represents a standard of managerial experience that we have not had at Cardiff City before. His experience in this field, I hope, will allow us to attract a higher profile and standard of player in the coming years.”
Cardiff finished 21st in the Championship last season, five points above the relegation zone, after having four different managers during the campaign. Steve Morison was sacked in September following a poor start, with his replacement Mark Hudson dismissed in January and – after a brief spell with Dean Whitehead as interim boss – Lamouchi was then handed the reins.
The Bluebirds have not publicly announced the length of Bulut’s contract.
The Bluebirds advanced into the Championship play-off places with a fourth successive league victory.
It was hardly a scintillating display from the Bluebirds who struggled to break down limited opponents in the first half.
But once striker Kion Etete put the hosts in front with a 56th-minute header, the result never looked in doubt.
Defender Perry Ng made certain with a second in the 89th minute.
Bulut said: “Nothing is easy, but it is perfect to have four wins. We have our fighting spirit back, it is going really well but we cannot stop.
“It wasn’t easy to open their defence and there’s always the danger of getting caught on the counter-attack.
“I am pleased for Kion after his goal but it is good that other players are chipping in with goals too.
“It is up to us now to keep things going and to continue to work hard and improve.”
For Rotherham, it was an afternoon to forget. They barely laid a glove on their opponents in the Welsh capital.
The Millers have just one win from their opening nine games and already look relegation candidates.
A Rotherham equaliser never looked likely, with the Bluebirds defence rock solid.
Manager Matt Taylor admitted his side had offered little threat but stressed Championship life will “always be a struggle” for the club.
Taylor said: “We have to make games ugly and scruffy away from home, and we tried to chase the game.
“But we needed a bit of luck to go our way around the opposition goal.
“We know we are short of certain types of players, but we have to see that’s the best we have been for an hour. We just have to convert that to 90 minutes.
“In terms of where we have been for our first four away games that was an improvement. Our league position is a concern, but we are always going to be fighting at Rotherham.
“Our home form suggests we are good enough. But something has to change away from home. That did happen for an hour, but we’re still sat here having been beaten.”
Taylor was serving a one-game touchline ban at the Cardiff City Stadium after picking up a third yellow card of the season during his side’s draw with Preston last weekend.
But he revealed he was a lot nearer the action than he expected.
“I was meant to be out of earshot and communicating via a walkie-talkie, but I was put in a seat only about 10 rows back,” said Taylor.
“It was nothing to do with me, that’s where they put me.”
The Bluebirds romped to a big victory at the John Smith’s Stadium, one which lifted his team into the top six.
Asked about a play-off push this term, Bulut said: “It’s too early to talk about that, anything can happen at this stage of the season.
“Everything can still change, we’ve still got a long way to go in front of us this season.
“We’ve had really good performances earlier this season and not got the results we’ve deserved.
“Against Swansea and against Ipswich we played really well, but then last week against Blackburn, that was just what I didn’t want to see.
“Tonight was much more what I expect. Against the ball and with the ball we were so much better, and to be honest, it probably should have been more than four goals we won by.
“I’m satisfied of course, but if we’d have been a bit calmer in front of the goal, we would have scored more. Confidence is great in the dressing room.
“Defensively we were strong too, and a clean sheet away from home is good. We’ve been good offensively, though, so we need to carry this momentum on now.”
The game was over by half-time as the Bluebirds were already 3-0 up.
Some shocking defending did not help as goals from Callum Robinson, Dimitrios Goutas and Yakou Meite had Bulut’s men in cruise control.
The Bluebirds’ fourth goal – superbly curled home by Perry Ng – ensured Terriers boss Darren Moore was sent crashing down to earth after a first win under his charge at the weekend.
Moore said: “Let’s not dress it up, that just wasn’t good enough. We’ve conceded early on, and we’ve never really recovered from that.
“I think all the goals came from set-plays too, which is a big disappointment.
“I made the changes at half-time and changed the system around, but despite one or two chances in the second half, the final touch in the opposition penalty area just was not there.
“There are areas we need to look at going forward. Certainly goals can happen in football, but most of them were unavoidable. We have to take responsibility for that.
“Goals change games and breed confidence, and we need that tonight. But there was a bit too much hesitancy I thought.
“We took the plaudits and the pats on the back after beating QPR on Saturday, but we did not deserve anything like that tonight.
“It’s been a disappointing night all round, but we’ve got a big game at Leeds this weekend to focus on now.”
The 24-year-old, who started his career at Chelsea, joins on a season-long loan from French club Troyes having also enjoyed spells in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Ugbo told the Bluebirds’ website: “I’ve been waiting to come back to the English leagues for a while now and I’m really pleased that it’s finally over the line.
“I spoke to the manager (Erol Bulut) before coming here. He was telling me how I suit the club, what I can do to help the club and what the club can do to help me.
“I think our ambitions align together, so I think it was a perfect choice for me.”
Bulut said: “Ike has shown what he can do over the last three years. When he was in Belgium he scored a lot of goals, and he did some very good things with Troyes as well.
“In one-v-one situations, he is really good in the box. His heading and finishing is also good. These are things that we need, because we know that last season the team did not score enough goals.”
A spokesman for the family confirmed on Monday the former Birmingham, Nottingham Forest and England striker had died following a heart attack.
Francis became Britain’s first £1million player when he joined Forest in 1979 and he went on to score the club’s winner in the European Cup final later that year.
He earned 52 England caps and later led Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham to major finals as a manager.
Peter Shilton, the former Forest and England goalkeeper, tweeted: “I’m absolutely devastated to hear about my old team-mate Trevor Francis. Such a wonderful gentleman a friend and a terrible loss.”
Former England striker turned TV presenter Gary Lineker wrote: “Deeply saddened to hear that Trevor Francis has died.
“A wonderful footballer and lovely man. Was a pleasure to work alongside him both on the pitch and on the telly. RIP Trevor.”
Chris Waddle, who was a member of Francis’ Owls side that reached the League Cup and FA Cup finals of 1993, tweeted: “So sorry to hear the sad news that Trevor Francis has passed away, he was a lovely man and such great player and thank you so much for bringing me to SWFC..RIP legend.”
Mark Bright, another member of that Wednesday side, added: “RIP, Trevor Francis. Trev signed me when he was player/manager at SWFC.
“The club experienced some great times in the early 90’s, both Trev his wife Helen were very kind in helping me to settle in at the club. I greatly appreciated it then & now. Love to sons Matthew & James.”
Chris Kamara, the former Brentford and Swindon midfielder who later became a media colleague of Francis’, also offered his condolences.
He wrote: “Oh no, just heard Trevor Francis has passed away. What a player he was & what a gentleman. Got to know him well when Trevor was doing his co-commentary’s for Sky, a job he loved.
“RIP Trevor the first million pound player who always looked a million dollars.”
Another media colleague, Hayley McQueen, daughter of former Leeds and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen, said: “Gutted about the passing of Trevor Francis, he was never the same after the passing of his beloved wife Helen six years ago.
“One of the loveliest couples you could meet who took me under their wing whilst working on a World Cup way back, dinners, lunches & even meet-ups back in London.”
Francis broke into the Birmingham team at the age of just 16 and after winning the European Cup twice with Forest he also went on to have successful spells with Samdoria and Rangers. He also played for QPR, Manchester City and Wednesday and his fame went beyond the game.
Former heavyweight world boxing champion Frank Bruno tweeted: “Trevor Francis RIP. Sad news about the sudden death of Trevor, he played in an era when I watched Match of the day avidly, another legend gone too soon. We met a few times, especially when I did events in and around the midlands.”
Journalist and TV presenter Piers Morgan wrote: “RIP Trevor Francis, 69. Britain’s first £1m footballer who had 52 caps for England and won back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest.
“Then became a superb TV pundit and was by all accounts a lovely man. Sad news. RIP.”
Carvalho struck with 19 minutes remaining to settle a dour game on Wearside, volleying the ball home from the edge of the area via a deflection off Trai Hume.
Sunderland’s supporters jeered their own head coach Michael Beale in the closing stages of the game, with the former Rangers and QPR boss now having suffered three defeats in a row in all competitions.
Beale restored Ukrainian striker Nazariy Rusyn to Sunderland’s starting line-up, but the home side struggled to create chances against a well-organised Hull side.
Alex Pritchard floated a ball beyond the back post after Alfie Jones’ misplaced pass threatened to play the Tigers into trouble.
But Sunderland only recorded one effort at goal in the opening half-hour and even that was a tame effort, with Pritchard rolling a poor shot straight at Hull goalkeeper Ryan Allsop after breaking towards the edge of the penalty area.
Hull were no more threatening despite some slick midfield interplay that generally involved Liverpool loanee Carvalho, with their first strike at goal coming midway through the first half as Lewis Coyle shot over from the right of the box.
Coyle’s overlapping runs down the right were a feature of the visitors’ attacking play all evening and the right-back almost broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark.
Ozan Tufan rolled the ball into his path, but Coyle’s stabbed effort was saved by Anthony Patterson.
The rest of the first half was a scrappy affair, with Hull picking up five yellow cards as a series of niggly fouls prevented the game from generating any kind of rhythm.
The quality of attacking play did not really improve after the interval, but Sunderland finally asked a serious question of Allsop on the hour mark.
A cross from the left was only cleared to Hume, who was loitering 25 yards from goal and – after taking a touch to bring the ball under control – the full-back fired in a dipping effort that was tipped over the crossbar.
It was either going to take a moment of magic or a slice of luck to break the deadlock and in the end, Hull’s opener in the 71st minute featured a bit of both.
Carvalho displayed excellent technique as he swivelled his body to fire in a first-time volley from Tyler Morton’s cross, but his shot might not have beaten Patterson had it not flicked off Hume’s head and changed direction.
The Tigers had gone six games without a win but two goals from Carvalho put them in control in the Welsh capital.
Cardiff briefly got themselves back into contention through Karlan Grant only to see their former striker Jaden Philogene grab a third for Hull just two minutes later and settle the result.
Victory saw Hull climb one place to ninth while Cardiff’s already faint play-off hopes are now effectively over with just one win from their last four.
These teams were separated before kick-off by just one position and two points in the league table but the difference on the pitch was considerable.
Hull had influential captain Jacob Greaves back in the heart of defence following a two-match suspension and his comeback inspired a return to form.
Cardiff had some success on the left but, as so often this season, lacked a cutting edge.
Jamilu Collins shot straight at former Cardiff keeper Ryan Allsop, Grant’s work needed a stronger touch by Joe Ralls while Josh Bowler’s burst went unfinished.
Hull were far from faultless but looked far sharper in attack with Abdulkadir Omur twice forcing saves from Ethan Horvath.
It was a corner from the second of those efforts that brought the opener when Carvalho pounced on a lax clearance to volley home on 32 minutes.
The striker barely broke his stride with the shot that went through a crowd and left the unsighted Horvath rooted to the spot.
It was a similar story 12 minutes later when Carvalho was played through on goal by a crisp Hull attack.
Three passes cut Cardiff apart as Omur and Ozan Tufan combined to tee up Carvalho for his second just before half-time.
Cardiff pressed for a way back at the start of the second half but top-scorer Perry Ng headed straight at Allsop before Grant’s solo effort.
Little appeared on when the forward gathered the ball on the edge of the box, only to turn inside Regan Slater and squeeze his shot inside Allsop’s near post.
Erol Bulut immediately threw on Aaron Ramsey and Manchester City loanee Josh Wilson-Esbrand for a second but also distracted his defender Nathaniel Phillips with instructions that gifted Hull a third.
Former Bluebird Philogene pounced on the lapse in concentration, sprinting through before smashing home past the helpless Horvath.
Omur went close to a fourth when he hit the post with a curling effort and Philogene should have doubled his tally in stoppage time but blazed over the bar when clean through on goal.
A Forest fan was jailed after headbutting Blades striker Billy Sharp during the incident at the end of the second leg at the City Ground on May 17 last year, while Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie was cleared last December of stamping on another pitch-invading Forest fan.
The Football Association had charged Forest with failing to ensure their supporters conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using threatening or violent behaviour while encroaching onto the pitch following the final whistle.
The charge was partially admitted by Forest, and a £50,000 fine was imposed by an independent regulatory commission. The FA said half of the fine had been suspended by the panel until the end of next season, provided there were no further breaches of FA rule E20.
