Goalless Draw At The New York Stadium

Rotherham United 0 Shrewsbury Town 0

Rotherham United came back to earth with a bit of a bump this afternoon after two good games to a frustrating game against Shrewsbury Town at the New York Stadium.

The hosts had the first sight of goal with Jamie Lindsay sending Jake Hastie on his way who in turn found Freddie Ladapo who headed wide. The Millers went close minutes later when a poor clearance from Max O’Leary in the Shrewsbury goal went to Ladapo who eventually found Carlton Morris with the former Shrews forward prodding just wide. At the other end the Millers defence blocked Callum Lang before Ryan John Giles got on the end of a cross with Billy Jones being wise to the shot and putting it to safety. Rotherham had an appeal for a penalty when Morris went down under a challenge but referee Carl Boyeson said no which was probably the right decision followed by a Ladapo shot from just outside the box which O’Leary did well to get his hands to and palm away. The teams took a water break on the twenty-fifth minute mark (which probably lasted two or three minutes so surprised everyone when only one minute was added on at the end of the half). Not having a lot to do Millers’ ‘keeper Daniel Iversen was brought into the game around the half-hour mark when he tipped a shot from Giles over the bar and the first card of the game when to Jones for a late challenge on Sean Goss (though apparently pulling shirts and pushing and holding onto players doesn’t warrant a card these days). At the other end O’Leary did well to clear the ball before Ladapo pounced after some good work from Morris before a Jones cross in was found the head of Matt Crooks who saw the ball go wide.

There was nothing to note in the opening minutes of the second half with a fifty-eighth minute Jake Hastie corner falling to Freddie Ladapo whose shot was blocked. Two minutes later the Shrews came close after Ryan John Giles eased past his marker and shot in from an angle which Michael Ihiekwe put his leg out to stop and was thankful to see the ball whizz past the upright for a corner when it could well have been an own goal. Max O’Leary did well to get down to a shot from Hastie which was followed by Ladapo making way for Michael Smith. Josh Laurent saw yellow for a poor challenge on Ihiekwe which was followed by a poor clearance out of the box by the Shrewsbury defence with the ball falling to Ben Wiles whose shot from distance saw O’Leary fall upon on his line. Carlton Morris won the hosts a free-kick which Wiles aimed towards Ihiekwe at the far post with the defenders cross being put behind for a corner which came to nothing. Shrewsbury brought on Jason Cummings for Callum Lang. Wiles jumped above his marker to head the ball down for Morris who made a bit of a mess of it from just six yards out. Omar Beckles saw yellow after him and Morris both went down with the Hastie free-kick finding Ihiekwe who flicked the ball towards goal with O’Leary making a great save to keep the ball out. Shaun MacDonald came on for the tiring Jake Hastie with the visitors taking Josh Laurent off for Dave Edwards. The Shrews were frustrating the Millers – and their fans – with their time wasting antics at every free-kick and throw-in before the ref eventually booked Sean Goss for kicking the ball away. The Shrews last substitution of the afternoon saw Brad Walker on for Shaun Whalley. In time added on the Millers might have stolen all three points when Morris got the ball but sent it way over the crossbar with the last kick of the game.

Shrewsbury came to frustrate the Millers and they stuck to their game plan well with Rotherham not appearing to have an answer. Some good defending from the visitors plus some jaded looking players in red and white didn’t really give the fans much to cheer about. After the previous two games this one was a bit of a damp squib for the Millers not helped by another poor display of refereeing, particularity in the first half.

Crowd – 8,380 with 429 making the trip from Shropshire

Referee – Carl Boyeson