Match Reports

Another Away Win Sees Millers Top Of The League

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Ipswich Town 0 Rotherham United 2
                                   Wiles (24)
                                   Ferguson (59)

Rotherham United went to the top of League One after this evening’s two-nil win away at Ipswich Town which saw another cracker of a goal from Ben Wiles and a first goal from Shane Ferguson.

The Millers started the game well with Dan Barlaser slipping the ball through for Michael Smith who in turn sends it towards Freddie Ladapo but Toto Nsiala was there to clear for the hosts. After winning the ball Chieo Ogbene won a free-kick which Shane Ferguson took sending it into the crowded area and finding Smith who can’t turn to cause any problem. Minutes later Jamie Lindsay got a good ball from Ladapo and his curling shot was well saved by Ipswich ‘keeper Christian Walton. At the other end Scott Fraser and and Bailey Clements worked before the ball was sent towards Macauley Bonne but Michael Ihiekwe got there first which was followed by a good build up from the home side only for Fraser to see his shot go wide. On the twenty-fourth minute Smith sent Ben Wiles a perfect ball after the midfielder had made a good run and the home born before shooting from twenty yards out finding the far corner of the net to put Rotherham in front.
After some pinball in the box Smith saw a shot blocked before Ipswich counter with Bonne getting the ball in a good position but lost his footing under pressure from Millers captain Richard Wood. The visitors came close to making it two on the half-hour mark when a cross from Smith saw Ladapo run onto the ball putting his shot inches past the upright. A backpass from a Town defender to his ‘keeper who then put the ball out of play under pressure from Ferguson. A Ferguson free-kick was headed across goal by Wood but it was just in front of Rarmani Edmonds-Green. The hosts won a throw-in on the half-way line which Lindsay kicked away and was promptly booked followed by a yellow for Ihiekwe for arguing with referee Gavin Ward. Edmonds-Green had to be alert to deal with an Ipswich corner before the half-time whistle went.

A chance came for Rotherham just three minutes into the second half when a cross from Shane Ferguson found Michael Smith who heads the ball back to Freddie Ladapo who can’t quite get there. The hosts won a free-kick which Lee Evans put over followed by some good work from Michael Ihiekwe who got to a cross from Scott Fraser before Conor Chaplin. Just before the hour mark the Millers doubled their lead after some trickery from Chieo Ogbene saw him get past his marker and skip into the box putting the ball back for Ladapo whose shot hit Smith but only got as far as Shane Ferguson who hit the ball into the net for his first Rotherham goal. Ipswich replied by making two changes fetching on Matt Penney and Kyle Edwards for Bailey Clements and Lee Evans. A free-kick for the hosts saw Viktor Johansson punch clear before a chance at the other end saw Smith head over. Some nice football between the two substitutes saw Penney put the ball into the box but Richard Wood’s outstretched leg stopped it going any further before Penney had another go which Michael Ihiekwe had to head away before it reached Joe Pigott who had come on for Conor Chaplin a minute before. Rotherham made two changes with Wes Harding and Mickel Miller replacing Shane Ferguson and Chieo Ogbene. A corner for the hosts was taken short to Bersant Celina whose shot was headed away by Rarmani Edmonds-Green followed by the third Rotherham change which saw Freddie Ladapo make way for Kieran Sadlier. The Millers won a corner which Dan Barlaser took after being yellow carded for time wasting before they won a free-kick after Ben Wiles was tripped by Sam Morsy, who didn’t get a yellow card. With both Barlaser and Sadlier standing over the kick the latter took it and saw it blocked and go for a throw-in. In time added on a Janoi Donacien set-piece was met by Pigott who headed straight into the waiting arms of Johansson.

Another good away performance and another good three points for the Millers tonight plus a clean sheet and you can’t really ask for more.

Referee – Gavin Ward

Attendance – 18,221

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