Friendly Loss For Millers

Rotherham United 0 Middlessbrough 2
                                             Silvera (6)
                                            Gilbert (87)

Rotherham United got a good workout this evening from a Middlesbrough side that looked sharp.

Although there was some early pressure from the Millers it was Middlesbrough who had the first chance when Samuel Silvera sent Morgan Rogers on his way with United ‘keeper Viktor Johansson doing well to claim the ball. But minutes later a pass from Hayden Coulson was spot on for Silvera to slide the ball into the net and give the visitors the lead. It might have been two just a minute later when the home defence were found wanting and it was only thanks to a great Johansson save that Rogers failed to score with the resulting corner finding Rogers who put the ball into the net only to see the linesman’s flag up. After some more good work from ‘Boro Isaiah Jones saw his pass put behind with the corner causing problems and again only some good work from Johansson stopped Rogers getting on the score sheet. The first real chance for the hosts came on twenty-five minutes when nice work from Ben Wiles found A Trialist whose shot at goal had to be dealt with by Coulson before Johansson was on duty again at the other end stopping a shot from Izzy Jones. Cohen Bramall set off on a run but was stopped in his tracks by Tommy Smith. Cameron Humphreys won the Millers first corner on thirty-eight minutes with Cafu taking it and seeing it headed away before being sent back into the box to A Trialist who earned another corner. Cafu again was on corner duty but the ball was headed to safety. As the half drew to a close the action was in front of Viktor Johansson who first did well to keep out Silvera before he did well to stop Rogers scoring.

Middlesbrough started the second half with a full-line up change including former Miller Dan Barlaser being replaced by another former Miller Dael Fry while Matt Crooks also came on. The hosts made just one change with Curtis Durose coming on for Cafu. And it was the visitors who started lively with only a flying block from Grant Hall stopping a goal bound ball and going out for a corner instead which didn’t bother anybody. A race between Viktor Johansson and Crooks saw the ‘Boro player win but Tyler Blackett was on the goal line to clear. Minutes later Johansson saved from Crooks which was followed by a couple of changes for the Millers Jordan Hugill and Grant Hall making way for Ciaran McGuckin and Sean Morrison. The Millers won a corner which Durose sent in only to see a defender head it away before the defender put a good ball into the box which no Rotherham player was able to capitalise on. With twenty minutes to go Rotherham made a number of changes while Matt Crooks was replaced by Alex Gilbert making his debut for the visitors and it was a superb ball from Riley McGree that found the Republic of Ireland forward with Johansson only half clearing the ball as far as McGree but an acrobatic clearance from Morrison kept the score at one-nil. Midfielder Ben Hatton beat his marker and flew down the pitch finding himself on goal but Tom Glover managed to get there first followed by a free-kick for the Millers after a poor challenge (which looked less than friendly) on Durose which Tolaji Bola took finding McGuckin who in turn found Hatton the midfielder putting the ball wide. With three minutes to go Gilbert was allowed too much room and doubled ‘Boro’s lead which is how the game ended.

It’s only a friendly – and it was a good game for the Millers to be involved in, knowing what they will probably be facing in the Championship in the coming season. Twenty-one players got minutes under their belts, which really is what these games are all about.

Millers
Johansson
Bramall (Bola 70)
Blackett (Siesay 70)
Cafu (Durose 45)
Wiles (Hatton 70)
Hugill (McGuckin 60)
Rathbone (Abraham 70)
Hall (Morrison 60)
Odoffin (McCart 70)
Humphreys (Hull 70)
A Trialist (Douglas 70)

Subs not used- Phillips, Holvey, , Giwa


Middlesbrough
Dieng (Glover)
Smith (Collins)
Barlaser (Fry)
Van den Berg (McGree)
Hackney (Sykes)
Jones (Stott)
Payero (Hoppe)
Silvera (Agyemang)
Rogers (Hannah)
Coulson (Forrs)
Lenihan (Crooks) (Gilbert 70)

Subs not used – Jones, Bilongo

Attendance – 2,017 with 489 making their way from Middlesbrough