Huddersfield Town 0-0 Rotherham United
Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town played out a goalless draw at the John Smith’s Stadium this afternoon giving the Millers two clean sheets for 2025.
The Millers started the game at speed and in the opening minute a ball from Joe Powell was lifted for Sam Nombe to run onto before he crossed for Shaun McWilliams but as the midfielder got the ball the flag went up for offside. In the middle of that move Towns Nigel Lonwijk went down with what looked like a hamstring problem and after treatment was replaced by Ollie Turton. The hosts got the first corner after a cross from former Miller Ben Wiles was turned behind by Zak Jules with Nombe heading the set-piece away. Wiles had a good chance a minute later but dragged his shot wide before a foul on McWilliams saw referee Alex Chilowicz play-on the ball with Nombe who went forward but shot over the crossbar. A cross from Alex MacDonald was perfect to Powell who saw his shot blocked before another lovely cross from MacDonald saw Nombe get to it holding up the ball before sending it for Mallik Wilks but Huddersfield ‘keeper Jacob Chapman go there first. At the other end another corner for Town saw Wiles find Brodie Spencer who shot too high before Dillon Phillips in the Millers’ goal punched away from former Miller Josh Koroma the ball being picked up by Herbie Kane who sent it for Callum Marshall to have a shot which again Phillips kept out. Turton sent a cross in which was cleared as far as Kane who skied the ball into the fans behind the net. Just after the half-hour mark a foul on Callum Marshall brought the first yellow card of the day for Jules with Wiles sending the resulting free-kick high, wide and out. Koroma saw a shot blocked before Phillips was in action again saving a shot high from Wiles. Joe Rafferty sent a ball high into the area finding the head of Reece James who saw Chapman climb high to collect before a shot from Marshall at the other end was put behind by Phillips. That corner and a couple more for the hosts came to nothing before McWilliams saved the day with a goal line clearance with the Millers going straight down the other end with Powell who found Wilks but Michal Helik managed to get a foot to it leaving the game at nil-nil at the break.
The opening minutes of the second half saw Hakeem Odoffin make an important stop from Josh Koroma before Joe Powell sent a long ball for Sam Nombe who got the better of Michal Helik but not of Jacob Chapman. A foul on Nombe saw Tom Lees get a yellow card. The Millers had a couple of good chances firstly from Wilks who saw a shot saved by Chapman before Alex MacDonald saw a chance blocked. That was the Millers number fourteen’s last action as he was replaced by Cohen Bramall just before the hour mark. A cross from Brodie Spencer found Callum Marshall who saw his shot deflected with Sam Nombe getting it and playing it for Bramall just inside the box but his shot, from a tight angle, only found the side-netting. Shaun McWilliams got the better in the air of his marker sending the ball down for Joe Powell who put the ball just wide of the upright which was followed by another Millers attack where Nombe put the ball through for Wilks who saw Chapman off his line and tried to put the ball over him but the Town ‘keeper got a touch to it before Helik cleared. Changes for the hosts saw Antony Evans and Matthew Pearson on for Joe Hodge and Tom Lees. A minute later Ben Wiles got the ball in the area and fell to the floor as Phillips came towards him with Mr Chilowicz showing the midfielder a yellow card for play acting. Bojan Radulovic found Koroma with far too much space who got round Phillips and was about to shoot towards goal until a great tackle from Joe Rafferty stopped him in his tracks. Minutes later Koroma repaid the compliment with Radulovic seeing his header well saved by the Millers’ shot-stopper. On seventy-three minutes Town brought on new signing Ruben Roosken with Josh Koroma going the other way and a few minutes later he set up Turton who saw his shot blocked by the Rotherham defence. A change for the Millers saw Mallik Wilks make way for Jonson Clarke-Harris. A nasty tackle by the Town sub Radulovic left Cameron Humphreys reeling on the floor with the referee going straight for his pocket producing a red card for the Town player who had been on the pitch less than ten minutes. After treatment Humphreys was able to continue. Andre Green came on for the visitors in place of Shaun McWilliams. A cross in from Marshall found Helik who didn’t bother anyone before a foul by Nombe on Matthew Pearson saw a yellow card for the Millers number eight. As the board went up for a further four minutes a good cross in from James found the head of Clarke-Harris but the ball went wide before a free-kick for the hosts came to nothing the referee ending the game.
A point away from home is not to be sniffed at. It was a good game and I soon forgot how cold my hands were because I kept clapping the good work. There was little to choose between the teams this afternoon and a point a-piece was, in my opinion, the right result.
Attendance – 18,353
Referee – Alex Chilowicz
Share this article
Related Articles
