Bristol City boss Sean O'Driscoll was pleased with his team's display despite their 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace.
Glenn Murray and Stephen Dobbie scored in either half to put Palace in charge and City are now rock-bottom of the Championship, although they pulled a goal back late on when Palace's Jonathan Parr headed the ball into his own net.
But O'Driscoll said: "We have just played Cardiff and Palace away, two of the most difficult games you will get.
"We got beaten by a piece of quick thinking or sloppy play by us, whatever way you want to look at it, but we competed and tried to stop them doing what they did to Middlesbrough (a 4-1 win for Palace on Saturday).
"We were brave and pressed high up the pitch. We gave it our best and I would have taken the performance all day long.
"Nothing fazed us and we kept going. If you have a group of payers prepared to do that, then that is gold-dust.
"The worst case scenario is getting beaten twice, thumped, the spirit broken and the attitude not right but we are a million miles away from that.
"We are disappointed with the result, but happy with the attitude. The enthusiasm to play the game and work hard for each other was there."
Kayode Odejayi scored the first of two Millers' goals in two minutes when he drove home a low shot (60) with Lee Frecklington volleying home shortly after.
Rovers pulled one back when Joe Anyinsah drilled home (81) but it was not enough.
Aldershot moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Torquay thanks to Troy Brown's late goal.
The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw but Brown headed home seven minutes from time to move the Shots to within one place and three points of tonight's opponents.
AFC Wimbledon were also poised to move out of the bottom two only to be pegged back for a 1-1 home draw with Northampton.
Alan Bennett headed the hosts in front (28) but Neil Sullivan's foul on Roy O'Donovan saw the Cobblers awarded a penalty with 14 minutes remaining.
Adebayo Akinfenwa placed the spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner to earn a point for his side.
Tranmere were at one point some way ahead at the top of the table but they have faltered of late with no team really picking up the baton and asserting themselves.
Instead, just two points separate the top six after the night's action.
The Robins are searching for a new manager after Di Canio's exit on Monday night but his absence had little impact on the team's performance.
All the goals came in the second half.
James Collins hit a fierce long-range opener for the Robins (48) with Gary Roberts (71) firing into the top left-hand corner of the goal from 25 yards to double the lead.
Tranmere pulled one back seven minutes later when Donervon Daniels slotted home from close range but any hopes of a comeback were dashed by Roberts' stunning long-range strike at the death.
In the other League One match, Oldham climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Stevenage.
James Dunne gave Stevenage a ninth-minute lead but the Latics hit back through Dean Furman (46) and a James Tarkowski header (60).
