Away Point for Millers

Of the two managers at the final whistle last night at Griffin Park, it is maybe Mark Robins who is the most disappointed at not coming away with all three points.

Two goals in the second half, Lee Thorpe for the Bees on fifty-five minutes and Captain Graham Coughlan for the Millers six minutes later saw both sides get a point.

The first half was pretty equal with both sides having spells on top without either goalkeeper really having to do anything although the visitors had the best chance when Marc Newsham unleashed a shot from twenty yards out and hit the far post after a one-two with Andy Todd to start the move. Marcus Bean had a shot that went just wide of the post and Charlie Ide, for the home team, nodded wide from eight yards out. The Millers had a shout for a penalty when Todd was clearly barged in the back by a defender, went down in the area, deflected the ball out and Mr East, the referee, shook his head and gave Rotherham a throw in!

With the Millers fans in full voice, and three flags in evidence last night, the away side had another shout for a penalty straight after half time when Stephen Brogan was bundled over from behind but again the referee shook his head. Ten minutes later the away team were caught ball watching when a long ball from John Mackie found Lee Thorpe whose angled shot beat Andy Warrington. On the sixty second minute, an Ian Sharps cross found Graham Coughlan whose looping header sailed past Simon Brown into the net. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Brentford and fire on the Millers although both teams could have won it in the final few minutes. Brown saved the home team when Marc Newsham took a flick on from Chris O`Grady, on at half time for Derek Holmes, got behind the defence only to see his powerful shot saved by the legs of the oncoming goalkeeper. In injury time, a precise cross from John Mousinho just failed to reach any of the home sides` forwards and went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

All in all a good away point for the Millers to bring back from London. Just as important, I think, for the fans and management, was the fact that we didn`t stop playing after the first forty-five minutes as has happened in the last few games. Newsham looked lively and Todd pulled out the stops last night with both Graham Coughlan and Ian Sharps looking solid at the back.