Away Point For Millers

Rotherham United had to get something from this game and they did getting a point and showing a much better performance than the one that saw them lose three-nil at home to Wycombe on Monday.

Both teams made changes for this game, the Millers bringing in Matthew Olosunde and Richard Wood with Dan Barlaser and Freddie Ladapo dropping to the bench while the hosts had five changes Joel Pereira, Richard Stearman, Demeaco Duhaney, Isaac Mbenza and Danny Ward making way for Ryan Schofield, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Pipa, Fraizer Campbell and Yaya Sanogo.

In the first minute of the game Matt Crooks won a free-kick for the Millers which Lewis Wing took and Ryan Schofield in the Town goal saved. A corner at the other end for the hosts saw Angus MacDonald clear before Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson claimed a cross-cum-shot from Pipa. Rarmani Edmonds- Green over hit a pass for Campbell before a lovely cross from Wes Harding found Wing whose shot from distance was well held by Schofield. Some nice football between Duane Holmes and Sanogo was halted by Harding who put behind and got a pat on the back from Johansson who punched away the resulting corner. With twenty-five minutes gone the Millers came so close to opening the scoring when some super football from Ben Wiles saw him fly into the area and find Matt Crooks who saw his shot come back off the post to safety. A corner for the hosts saw Michael Smith get a head on it to clear but it only went to Jonathan Hogg who sent the ball towards Holmes but again Harding was there to deal with the danger. MacDonald then did well to turn away a Pipa cross with the corner kick falling to Richard Keogh whose shot flew at Johansson hitting him on the chest before taking a deflection for a goal kick. Sanogo had a chance in a good position which he put wide before Jamie Lindsay nearly made a name for himself by chasing down a ball meant for Schofield with the Huddersfield ‘keeper getting there just before him. And it was Lindsay again just before half-time who took the ball off the foot of Pipa only for his shot to take a deflection and whistle wide before only some good work from Lewis O’Brien saw him get his head to a Wiles cross before Smith with the resulting corner seeing Michael Ihiekwe put the ball out for a goal-kick leaving it goalless at half-time.

In the opening minutes of the second half Rotherham had the ball in the back of the net when a cross in from Lewis Wing fell to Matt Crooks who hit the back of the net but a linesman’s flag was up for offside. Ben Wiles flew down the pitch getting the ball to Wing but Richard Keogh did enough to get the ball away before some good defending from Matt Olosunde and Jamie Lindsay stopped Frazer Campbell in his tracks. The first change of the game came on the fifty-second minute for the hosts seeing Sorba Thomas replace Pipa and it was the sub who tried to put the ball into the area only to find Millers skipper Richard Wood in his way. On the hour mark the visitors won a free-kick which Wing crashed against the woodwork with Ryan Schofield nowhere in sight. A number of other free-kicks came to nothing for Rotherham before the ball came into the box and came to Wood who was pushed to the ground with Premier League Referee Lee Mason saying no penalty. At the other end Juninho Bacuna sent a ball through for Thomas with Viktor Johansson, sporting a cap to keep the sun out of his eyes, doing well to save. Matt Crooks had a shot blocked before a Wing corner found Wood but his header went just wide. The Millers first substitution saw Matt Olosunde make way for Ryan Giles with the substitute putting in a great cross towards Michael Smith but Schofield got there before him putting out for a corner. Giles took the resulting set-piece finding Wing who let fly bringing off a magnificent save from Schofield. Dan Barlaser was the second change for the Millers coming on for Jamie Lindsay while the Terriers brought on Scott High and Isaac Mbenza for Juninho Bacuna and Duane Holmes. A Huddersfield corner was headed high by Keogh before Sanogo brought off a save from Johansson. In the final minute of the game some super work from Smith saw him pull the ball back for Crooks who sent it to Wiles and the Rotherham lad should really have won all three points for the visitors when having the goal at his mercy he put the ball wide.

A good performance and a clean sheet away from home with no yellow cards and no obvious injuries plus our four near rivals in the Championship all losing isn’t too bad a result – although, on the other hand, you could look at it and know we had an opportunity to get all three points this afternoon.

I feel it’s with confidence we will welcome Queens Park Rangers to the New York Stadium on Tuesday night.