Disappointing Home Loss For Millers

Rotherham United 0 Lincoln City 2

It was a disappointing first home game of the season at the New York Stadium yesterday with the Millers getting nothing from an uninteresting game.

The hosts started well with Kyle Vassell firing wide in the opening minute and a Dan Barlaser free-kick causing a problem when it found the head of Matt Crooks who headed wide and a good strike from Matthew Olosunde going inches past the far post. Freddie Ladapo was the first to be cautioned for a nothing tackle on former Rotherham player Harry Toffolo with the second caution of the afternoon going to Lincoln’s Joe Morrell who was late on Barlaser. A lovely ball from Barlaser found Ladapo whose curling shot saw City ‘keeper Josh Vickers rushing across goal with the ball going wide which the Millers’ forward follows up two minutes later by putting one over the crossbar. At the other end Michael Ihiekwe had to be alert to stop Tyler Walker getting a shot away before some good work between Ladapo and Smith saw the latter thwarted by Michael Bostwick. It really had been mostly Rotherham but on forty-two minutes when a bursting run from Walker caught the Rotherham defence sleeping and his shot hit Shaun MacDonald who saw the ball go into his own net to give the visitors the lead at half-time.

Shaun MacDonald nearly made amends for his own goal in the first minute of the second-half but Josh Vickers did well to get down to his shot. But with four minutes of the half gone City made it two-nil when some schoolboy defending from a corner led to Harry Anderson heading in. The Millers never really recovered from that with the next action seeing Matt Crooks get a yellow card for fouling the last goalscorer. Carlton Morris and Ben Wiles came on for Michael Smith and Daniel Barlaser followed by Kyle Vassell picking up a yellow for a high challenge on Cian Bolger. Clark Robertson sent Freddie Ladapo on his way but he was foiled by two City defenders before Matt Crooks blasted over when it looked easier to shoot at goal. Jamie Proctor came on for Vassell with Jorge Grant making way for Bruno Andrade for the Imps. Harry Toffolo was cautioned for wasting time – which Lincoln seemed to do a lot since doubling their lead – with MacDonald hauling down Jack Payne and getting a yellow too. The visitors made a second substitution with John Akinde replacing Tyler Walker. Rotherham got a free-kick in a promising position but Morris fired over before the Millers’ sub sent a good ball into the box towards Proctor only for a defender to clear with the resulting corner coming to nothing. In the final minute of the ninety a superb header from Proctor brought off a magnificent save from Vickers. Former Miller Michael O’Connor was the last sub of the day making way for Ellis Chapman as the board went up for six extra minutes. Daniel Iversen made a good save from Andrade while Robertson did well to stop a shot from Jack Payne getting through.

All in all a bit of a miserable game for Millers fans.

My Man Of The Match was Matthew Olosunde.

Attendance – 10,706 (2,320 Imps)
Referee – Lee Swabey

Thanks to PT for this match report