Rotherham United 3 – 1 Bolton Wanderers
Wilks (34 pen) McAtee (86)
James (45+6)
Nombe (76)
Rotherham United got a first home win of the New Year in this dinner time kick-off today scoring twice before half-time.
Before the game there were applause from all four sides of the ground as names of our dearly departed in the last twelve months were shown on the big screen.
The Millers came close to opening the scoring in the first minute when a Mallik Wilks played a lovely ball for Sam Nombe who forced a good save from Wanderers’ ‘keeper Nathan Baxter. At the other end a throw-in was taken long finding George Johnstone who saw his shot from inside the box go wide. Another long throw for the visitors taken by Randell Williams found John McAtee who sent the ball just wide of the post before a fast break by Nombe saw him set Wilks on his way the Millers loanee also putting the ball inches past the upright. A free-kick for the hosts saw Alex MacDonald send in a super ball for Nombe who saw his shot go over the crossbar before a MacDonald cross found Shaun McWilliams who also saw his shot go wide. A foul on Joel Randell brought a yellow card for Cameron Humphries – although a more obvious foul minutes earlier on Humphries had brought nothing. A first real save for Millers’ ‘keeper Dillon Phillips came on seventeen minutes after Aaron Morley picked out Will Forester in the box with the Rotherham goalie saving the ball from finding it’s way into the top corner. Wilks did well minutes later to get the ball off Almeida Santos and despite having to go wide the Rotherham man danced into the area and shot only to see the ball hit the side-netting. MacDonald then came close to opening the scoring when he tried his luck from distance the ball going wide followed by Wilks trying the same sort of shot which also went past the post. On the half-hour mark a Joe Powell cross saw McWilliams free in the area to head the ball goalwards but it bounced down and over which was followed by Wilks making his way into the area and having the attention of two Bolton defenders he was bundled over. Referee Alan Young took a while to consider before giving the spot-kick and then he and his assistant had another five minute conversation about what punishment (and to who) should happen. Eventually Santos received a yellow card (last man? Surely red?) and Wilks placed the ball sending Baxter the wrong way as he calmly rolled the ball home. A minute later Baxter did well to collect a shot from McWilliams before there was a further delay involving the referee as he wandered off the pitch, apparently injured, to be replaced by Paul Cooper the Fourth Official. A chance for the visitors saw Williams send the ball back towards Collins who touched it for Morley who put the ball over the crossbar before Hungarian International Szabolcs Schon crossed for Randall who saw his shot blocked. In the extra seven minutes at the end of the half Joe Rafferty set Wilks up for a shot which the Bolton defence dealt with but Cameron Humphreys collected the loose ball sending it for Reece James who smashed the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal in a Rotherham shirt sending the Miller in two goal to the good at half-time.
A slow start to the second half saw the Millers have the first chance when a Joe Powell corner found Joe Rafferty who shot wide. Another chance saw a quick break by Reece James supply Powell who also put the ball wide. Mallik Wilks got the better of Szabolcs Schon before sending the ball forward for Sam Nombe who won a corner before a super ball from Cameron Humphreys found Wilks who, through on goal, shot only to see Nathan Baxter save with his legs. On the hour mark there were two changes for the visitors Dion Charles and Josh Dacres-Cogley replacing George Thomason and Randall Williams. A chance for the visitors five minutes later saw Schon beat the offside trap before delivering low to Charles prodded wide. On sixty-seven minutes Rotherham brought on Cohen Bramall for Alex MacDonald. A long throw wasn’t dealt with by the Millers and found Charles who saw his shot go just over the crossbar before Aaron Collins got into space for a shot which was blocked by Humphreys for a corner which came to nothing. On seventy-five minutes more superb work from Humphreys saw him find Wilks who forced a save from Baxter the ball coming back out to Nombe who crashed the ball into the empty net to make it three-nil to the Millers. With four minutes to go Bolton pulled one back after some nice football from Morley saw him send the ball for John McAtee to slip the ball under Dillon Phillips to make it three-one. And it could have been more just minutes later after Dacres-Cogley sent the ball across the box for Charles who couldn’t get on the end of it. In the middle of the goal and shot Rotherham Manager Steve Evans was given a yellow card for insisting that the Bolton goal was offside.
A three-one win – a pity we couldn’t keep a third clean sheet but it’s points that matter – and a rise to thirteenth in the League One table.
A good all round performance today – seven points from three games, two of which have been away – some of our football was good (some of the passing seemed a bit off but I’m only pointing that out not moaning) – and, in my humble opinion, we dominated today.
Well done to the groundsman for getting the game on – even though I felt like I was sitting in a shower for the first forty-five minutes!
Well Done Millers!
Attendance – 10,258 with 2,166 Bolton fans
Referee – Alan Young – subbed for Paul Cooper on 44 minutes
Share this article
Related Articles
