Friendly Defeat

It was a sweltering Millmoor last night as Rotherham played hosts to Sunderland in the first friendly to be staged at Millmoor this season.

Straight from the off Sunderland made there intentions clear as a 20yard shot from Murphy was just wide then Kyle blasted another effort wide when he was in a position to score comfortably.

Cochrane had a shot blocked for the Millers whilst Murphy again missed a sitter to put the visitors in the lead.

Sunderland keeper Alnwick made a top drawer safe on 34 minutes to deny Facey his first goal at Millmoor.The game drifted towards half time without any team getting a real hold on the game.

With only 3 minutes of the second half elapsed Sunderland took the lead when Murphy struck a superb 30 yard effort that flew past Montgomery, indeed a few minutes later it was almost two as Montgomery made a good save from a Murphy shot.

In soaring temperatures both teams made a lot of substitutions and Keane nearly levelled but Alnwick made a fine save in the Sunderland goal.

On 72 minutes the visitors made it 2-0 when Stead broke away far too easily to put a shot past Montgomery.

All in all a good workout for the Millers, but on this performance we need another striker as its hard to see where the goals are going to come from.

ROTHERHAM.
Montgomery,Worrell,( Wiseman-59 )Mills, (Murdoch 59)Sharps, Hurst,( Robertson 63),Cochrane,(McMahon 63) Duncum,Nicolas, Keane, ( Brogan 70 )Hoskins ( Taylor 59)Facey, (Newsham 70 )