Match Reports

Dons Hold Millers To Draw

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Rotherham United 1 MK Dons 1
Ladapo (10)                     Healey (22)

Rotherham United and MK Dons played out a one-all draw at a blustery New York Stadium this afternoon in a game which was probably a good watch for any neutral in the crowd.

Before the game there was a minutes silence for Millers fan Andrew Wilson-Storey who sadly passed away after being taken ill at last weeks game away at Accrington.

A quiet start to the game came to life on ten minutes when Jamie Lindsay, starting his first game since December, was first to a loose ball and seeing Freddie Ladapo flying down the pitch sent a perfect ball over to him with the striker hitting the ball low and watching it settle into the corner of the net before turning to celebrate his fourth goal in as many games. Five minutes later it was Ben Wiles and Lindsay who combined with the latter having his shot saved by Lee Nicholls in the Dons’ goal before Ladapo sends a good cross into the box for Wiles but the midfielder couldn’t direct his header. And the Millers were to rue those chances on the twenty-second minute when Joe Walsh got the ball through to Rhys Healey, who had far too much room, and the visiting forward danced his way into the box and sent the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net to get the equaliser for the visitors. The Millers almost went back in front a couple of minutes later when a Ladapo shot was put out for a corner which found Wiles whose cross into the box found the head of Michael Smith who put the ball wide. A trip on Chieo Ogbene earned Jordan Moore-Taylor a booking and he followed that up by giving a corner away which Ladapo put well wide after getting the ball from Wiles. The Millers were having the better of the play and a number of corners ended with Richard Wood heading high and wide before Ogbene got the better of his marker sending in a superb cross for Smith to head in from close range only for Nicholls to pull off a great save to keep the game at one-one. In time added on at the end of the first half a Joe Mattock cross found Lindsay who put the ball wide leaving the scores at one-one going into half-time.

Rotherham were the quickest out of the blocks in the second half with both Michael Smith putting a header wide and a cross-cum-shot from Chieo Ogbene was collected by Lee Nicholls before some great work from Freddie Ladapo saw him take the ball off a Dons’ defender and see his shot blocked. Just before the hour mark Ogbene went on one of his trademark runs down the wing putting the ball into the middle for Ladapo who saw his shot hit the post and go to safety. Not being able to get the better of Ogbene, George Williams saw yellow for dragging him down with Millers’ skipper Richard Wood getting booked a minute later for something-or-other what is being reported as ‘dangerous play’. The first changes came on sixty-six minutes with MK Dons fetching on David Kasumu and Ben Gladwin for Louis Thompson and Callum Brittain. Ladapo was brought down with Joe Mattock’s free-kick going frustratingly wide followed by a good appeal for a penalty from the Millers when the ball hit a defenders arm (and there’s no maybe about that) Mr Doughty didn’t turn a hair. A minute later the Millers should have gone ahead when more good work from Ogbene found the head of Smith only for him to put over when it looked easier to score. That was Smith’s last contribution with Kyle Vassell coming off the bench to take his place and Josh Koroma coming on for Jamie Lindsay. Rhys Healey fell over which led to Ogbene getting a yellow card and after more pressure from the Millers Dons made their last substitution fetching on Joe Mason for Sam Nombe. With eight minutes to go Wiles came close when he got the ball some twenty-five yards out and curled it in where it hit the outside of the post going to safety before Matt Crooks won the ball in midfield and fan down the pitch getting a cross in which found the head of Michael Ihiekwe who somehow headed wide with the goal at his mercy. At the other end Daniel Iversen had to be on his toes to keep out a shot from Gladwin with his fingertips. As the board went up for an extra five minutes Sean MacDonald came on for Matthew Olosunde. The visitors had a good opportunity to take all three points with Alex Gilbey finding himself one-on-one with Iversen with the Millers’ ‘keeper stopping the shot with his legs.

I don’t like to say it but I do think we were holding on in those last few minutes which we really shouldn’t be at home against a team in the last six of the league. In my mind, we really shouldn’t be dropping points at home after going in front and we really had plenty of chances to score. On a plus side we didn’t lose and we did make chances – just got to make sure we take them.

Attendance – 8,883 with 353 of those being Dons’ fans

Referee – Leigh Doughty

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4 comments

  • carlton in lindrick says:

    they have to stop dropping home points caz and against teams they shoud beat. these points will be vital at seasons end they need develop the killer instink and fiinish teams off. when the away team draws level it gives them a boost and makes them harder to beat it cost us top position this week.

    • Caz Neale (Herringthorpe) says:

      Certainly should be winning home games when you are top of the league I’d have thought, CinL. Would we settle for being in second place at the end of the season?

  • carltonn in lindrick says:

    I would settle for being second but i would rather finish top we need to finish teams off and dont give any goals away get that kill them off feeling

  • carlton in lindrick says:

    caz look how vital those dropped points are now . six points seperate the top six to draw three of the last five games is not good enough. that kind of form wont keep them in the top six we need better form than that a disapointed cinl

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