First Game Win For Millers

Rotherham United 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
Ladapo (10)
Wiles (38)

Rotherham United kicked their season off with three points against Plymouth Argyle at the New York Stadium.

After a minute’s applause, respected by both sets of fans, for former Rotherham players we have lost since the last time fans were at a league game it was a good start for the visitors when Jordan Houghton fired on the volley putting the ball over the crossbar. The first corner of the game went the Millers way won by Chieo Ogbene which Dan Barlaser took finding Ben Wiles who skied the ball when he probably had more time to control it. But two minutes later the hosts were in front after a well taken corner flew into the area bouncing around a while before it found Michael Ihiekwe who saw his shot at goal bounce away as far as Freddie Ladapo who scrambled the ball over the line to give the Millers an early lead. Dan Scarr came close to equalising minutes later when he headed just over from a free-kick but it was the Millers who appealed for a penalty when Wiles appeared to be brought down in the area but Referee Seb Stockbridge was having none of it. Another free-kick for the Pilgrims saw Conor Grant’s shot from just outside the box pushed away by Viktor Johansson in the Millers’ goal. At the other end Cooper did well to get above everyone to push away a Mikel Miller corner before Houghton tried his luck only to see his shot come off a Millers’ defender and go out for a corner. On thirty-eight minutes a ball from Jamie Lindsay found Michael Smith whose quick thinking saw Wiles on his own with the Millers’ midfielder taking the ball well and curling his shot into the top corner of the goal to give Rotherham a two-nil lead. In the final minutes of the half Plymouth had a couple of corners but nothing that really bothered the Millers.

Rotherham were lucky at the start of the second half when a Ben Wiles cross was too short to find a red shirt finding Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie but the striker’s shot was high and wide. The first yellow of the afternoon went to Dan Barlaser who stopped Argyle going forward with his hand with the resulting free-kick bothering no-one. Mikel Miller did well to get away from his marker sending a good ball into the box for Freddie Ladapo but Michael Cooper was there to claim. This was followed by an Argyle counter-attack which Wiles did well to halt sending the ball out for Miller only to see his pass meant for Ladapo fall into the arms of Cooper. A headed ball from Michael Smith found Ladapo who spun away from his marker to shoot but again it was straight into the arms of Cooper. The first change of the game came on the hour mark when Rotherham game a debut to Ollie Rathbone, Barlaser, on a yellow, making way. A Millers’ corner saw the ball find Chieo Ogbene who in turn found the head of Smith whose attempt at goal was blocked. The visitors brought on Ryan Broom for Danny Mayor who was brought down by Jamie Lindsay in his first foray up field with the Millers man getting booked and Plymouth getting a free-kick which came to nothing. A good ball from Wiles found Miller who brought a save off Cooper before Smith did well to wrestle back possession of the ball sending Ogbene on his way only for his shot to go over the upright. Another debutante saw Hakeem Odoffin replace Ben Wiles for the hosts and Plymouth taking off Conor Grant and Luke Jephcott for Adam Randell and Rhys Shirley. Wes Harding had been having a great game and only some great defending from him saw him get the ball off Hardie before the front man could fire a shot. A cross from Miller found Smith who saw his header land on the top of the net before Shane Ferguson came on to replace the Rotherham midfielder. Smith was causing problems late on for the visitors and with five minutes to go he sent Lindsay a super cross in but he put his header over before Harding dodged round Joe Edwards and sent a lovely ball in for Ladapo whose shot was blocked bouncing out to Ogbene who put his shot over. In time added on Ogbene won a corner late on which Ferguson took finding Smith who sent the ball across goal to Michael Ihiekwe but his effort also went over.
I can’t fault the forwards for Rotherham or the defenders but I did, today, at times wonder where our midfield was. But, let’s be right, you can’t start the season better than a home win and a clean sheet.

We are top of the league, we are top of the league – just indulge me – it might not happen again!

Attendance – 9.417 (1,102 Pilgrims)