Derby Win For Millers

Rotherham United 2 Doncaster Rovers 0
Smith (27, 45+2)


Rotherham United got all three points in this South Yorkshire game despite going down to ten men early in the second half.

The hosts started brightly and in the opening minutes a nice ball from Ben Wiles to Jamie Lindsay saw the midfielder miscue his kick meant for Mickel Miller and it went wide. A Kieran Sadlier corner saw a Rovers defender get there before Richard Wood which was followed by an early yellow card for Miller who pulled back Ben Close stopping a Rovers break. Sadlier, being booed all the time from the visiting fans who used to love him, found Miller who headed wide before Ollie Rathbone forced the visitors ‘keeper Pontus Dahlberg into a save low down. Sadlier got the better of his marker and tried his luck from distance but saw the shot blocked before action at the other end saw a Close ball find  Ethan Galbraith whose shot went over the crossbar. Freddie Ladapo went forward getting into the penalty area and when Kyle Knoyle pulled him back he went down with referee Martin Coy giving a goal kick. On twenty-three minutes the Rotherham fans were on their feet after a super cross from Sadlier found Lindsay in the area whose glanced header went into the net but a flag had gone up for offside, though who was offside nobody seems to know. But two minutes later the hosts did go ahead after a great pass from Miller found Michael Smith who struck the ball under the dive of the ‘keeper and into the net. Ladapo’s curling shot minutes later went high before he got another good cross under control from Sadlier and played it to Rathbone whose shot from some twenty-five yards out was saved by Dahlberg. Viktor Johansson was brought into action just after the half-hour mark after Tommy Rowe found Knoyle who crossed but the Millers’ ‘keeper was there to catch. A corner from the visitors saw the ball fall to the feet of Charlie Seaman but Wiles did well to get a tackle in before he could shoot followed by Ladapo seeing another header go wide. Sadlier again sent Miller on his way and only some good defending from Knoyle stopped the Rotherham player scoring. As the board went up for an extra two minutes Sadlier brushed Branden Horton aside and flew into the box letting fly only for Dahlberg to stand tall and block the shot. As the half was coming to a close Rovers made a mess of clearing up in their own box and the ball went from one player to another before finally landing at the feet of Smith who got his and the Millers second goal of the day.

Starting the second half as they finished the first, Rotherham came close to a third when Michael Smith rose to get a ball into the box but was thwarted by Ro-Shaun Williams. The first change of the game saw Doncaster bring on Tiago Cukur for Branden Horton. Less than ten minutes into the half Rotherham went down to ten men after Mickel Miller went in studs showing and Kyle Knoyle went down in a heap. Mr Coy showed a straight red to Miller and Knoyle got up without treatment. A late challenge on Ben Wiles saw Rovers’ Ethan Galbraith yellow carded. A couple of substitutions followed with the Millers’ being tactical fetching on Joe Mattock for Freddie Ladapo and  Aidan Barlow replaced John Bostock for the visitors. Some lovely work from Smith saw him send Ollie Rathbone on his way who got the ball on his right foot and shot but straight at Rovers’ ‘keeper Pontus Dahlberg followed by Sadlier being replaced by Dan Barlaser. At the other end Rathbone did well to get a goal kick off Tommy Rowe before another yellow card was shown this time to Matt Smith for a tug on Michael Ihiekwe’s shirt. With ten minutes to go a Barlaser cross towards Mattock saw him and Dahlberg both go for it and collide with the Rotherham man coming off worse and having to have a few minutes of treatment before being able to continue. Galbraith saw a shot blocked and Matt Smith and Ben Close had shots that went over the crossbar but, in all honestly, they never bothered the tall Viking in the Rotherham net. In time added on Rarmani Edmonds-Green came off the bench for Oliver Rathbone and a poor challenge on Mattock saw Knoyle see yellow.

Rotherham did well this afternoon scoring twice and then holding on easily despite going down to ten men for most of the second half. Well done, lads!

Attendance – 9,748 (1,716 Rovers fans)