Exeter City 1-0 Rotherham United
Watts 71
Rotherham United’s start to the new season didn’t go as planned when they came away with nothing from a one-nil loss at Exeter.
Most of the comments before the match were puzzling over the named team and formation – although it wasn’t as bad as Sky seemed to think when they had JCH at the back and Humphreys up front . . .
In the opening minute both sides might have taken the lead firstly the hosts when Josh Magennis sent a powerful shot in which hit the crossbar, although the flag was up for a foul, before Jordan Hugill went close seeing his shot go just wide. And, to be honest, it didn’t really get much better than that in a stop/start first half full of fouls, free-kicks and throw-ins all coming to nothing. Jack Aitchison sent the ball in for Vincent Harper who brought off a save from Dillon Phillips in the Millers goal before Hugill won a free-kick for the visitors which came to nothing. Aitchison went close with a header before Joe Hungbo sent a cross in for Sean Raggett who rose high to put the ball over the crossbar. On twenty-five minutes a good move from the Millers saw Hakeem Odoffin get by his marker and get the ball to Hungbo who shot from just outside the box fetching off a good save from Exeter ‘keeper Joe Whitworth. At the other end Reece Cole and Aitchison worked well together again the latter seeing his shot go wide before Cohen Bramall won a corner for Rotherham taken by Hungo found the head of Raggett but the ball went inches over. Cole and Harper had chances for the hosts which came to nothing followed by a superb cross from Hungbo finding his captain Jonson Clarke-Harris who saw his header go inches wide.
No changes for either side at the start of the second half with the hosts quickest out of the box with Vincent Harper sending the ball along the ground to Reece Cole whose kick was not only high but also wide. Dillon Phillips got down well to stop a shot from Cole sneaking into the corner minutes later before he saved from the midfielder again. A loose pass back to Joe Whitworth in the City goal saw Jordan Hugill make a play for the ball but it spun out before he could control it. At the other end Reece Cole had a shot saved by Dillon Phillips before the Millers’ ‘keeper was in action again minutes later to save a Cole shot from the edge of the area. A cross-come-shot from Ilmari Niskanen was caught by Phillips at the second attempt before Sean Raggett had to be in command to stop the Grecians getting a shot away. The first change of the game came on the hour mark when former Exeter player Sam Nombe replaced Jonson Clarke-Harris for the visitors. Raggett had a chance after a cross from Cohen Bramall saw him rise above everyone but he headed over instead of down before Bramall himself had a chance when he tried his luck from distance only to see the ball just clear the crossbar. It was one foul too many for City’s Johnly Yfeko who was shown a yellow card by referee Paul Howard on sixty-four minutes. A cross from Joe Hungbo found Hakeem Odoffin whose deflected shot hit the woodwork before the action went down the other end and a super save from Phillips stopped Jack Aitchison open the scoring. Changes for the hosts saw Reece Cole and Vincent Harper make way for Millenic Alli and Caleb Watts while the Millers brought on Joe Powell with Jamie McCart going the other way. Nombe and Odoffin worked well together the latter heading over but it was Exeter who put the ball in the net on seventy-one minutes when Yfeko was allowed to get a cross over which appeared to hit Watts in the box before going into the net. Minutes later Jack Aitchison put the ball in for Alli who missed from close range before the Millers had a free-kick which found Christ Tiehi with room to shoot but the ball went high. With ten minutes left another change for the Millers saw Esapa Osong replace Jordan Hugill and Joe Hungbo make way for Jack Holmes before an injury to Aitchison saw him subbed by Pedro Borges. A poor challenge on the Exeter sub brough Sean Raggett a yellow card with the resulting set-piece seeing Ed Francis find Pierce Sweeney who missed the target. Alli had a couple of chances for the hosts, one being saved the other going wide before another change for Exeter saw former Miller Ben Purrington replace Johnly Yfeko in the final minutes of the game. Osong sent a nice ball for Nombe, the Millers forward winning a corner which came to nothing which was followed by a yellow card for Josh Magennis. In time added on Joe Rafferty and Sam Nombe tried to pull the Millers level but it wasn’t to be.
An opening day loss away from home isn’t something to start fearing the worst over. There were times that the Millers looked lacklustre and couldn’t pass the ball to one another which led Exeter to get on top. And, really, away from home you have to make sure you take the chances you are given.
A Tuesday night cup game is next up for the Millers – what do we think, the first win of the season.
Referee – Paul Howard
Attendance – 7,458 with 901 of those in the away end
