Goalless Yorkshire Derby

Rotherham United 0 Huddersfield Town 0

A draw was really no good for either team this afternoon but, for the Millers, it was their first point since mid-January so has to be a plus.

It was a good start for the hosts when a long pass from Peter Kioso found Sam Nombe the Rotherham forward getting the better of his marker and sending a cross in for Charlie Wyke but Town ‘keeper Lee Nicholls beat him to the ball. Jack Rudoni got to a cross from Delano Burgzorg and tried his luck from just outside the box but couldn’t get the better of Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson. Two chances for the Millers saw a Sean Morrison long throw into the box cleared as far as Andy Rinomhota who saw his curled shot from just inside the box come back off the post and across the box finding Wyke who put the ball past the upright. At the other end a free-kick from Sorba Thomas found the head of Matthew Pearson who saw the ball go wide before another long throw from Morrison saw the hosts win a corner which Sam Clucas took looking for Morrison but the ball was cleared by a Huddersfield defender. Town went down the other end and won a corner of their own with Thomas finding Jonathan Hogg whose header was blocked as far as David Kasumu who saw his shot saved by Johansson. The first yellow of the afternoon went to Brodie Spencer who brought Clucas down. A nice move from the Millers saw Cafu get the ball and dinked it over for Nombe to run onto but it was just a little long for him before the visitors came close to opening the scoring when a throw-in found Pearson who sent in a great ball for Jaheim Headley who rose above everyone to head it wide. Kasumu got the better of Kioso, meeting Rinomhota in the box and threw himself down referee Josh Smith booking him for diving. Spenser and Burgzorg worked well together with Johansson keeping hold of the latters shot before Nombe sent Kioso off on a run who in turn found Seb Revan who saw his shot fly over the crossbar. At the other end Kioso did well to stop a header from Headley going towards goal the resulting corner finding Hogg who saw his shot blocked by Revan but only as far as Pearson whose overhead kick flew into the crowd behind the goal. As the board went up for one extra minute Spencer found himself in acres of space and shot the ball ending up on the top of the net.

The Terriers started the second half with former Millers favourite Ben Wiles coming off the bench for David Kasumu. And it was the visitors who came out the better with a cross from Sorba Thomas was initially cleared by Peter Kioso but only as far as Delano Burgzorg who saw his shot rise over the crossbar when it really looked easier to score. Sam Nombe won a throw-in for Rotherham which found Cafu who worked his way inside sending in a hopeful ball for Nombe but it was too long. A pass from Wiles meant for Thomas was cut out by Sean Morrison the Town forward sending the Millers skipper to the floor and was booked for arguing the point. A Thomas free-kick was punched away by Viktor Johansson finding Cafu who took advantage of most of the Town players being around the Millers box and sent a lovely cross for Ollie Rathbone who set off at pace only to have his heels clipped by Thomas with Mr Smith fetching out a yellow for the Welsh International just four minutes after his first and Huddersfield found themselves down to ten men. The resulting free-kick was put over the crossbar by Cafu before Jack Rudoni brought off a low save from Johansson at the other end. A loose pass saw Cafu get there before Lee Nicholls sending the ball to Charlie Wyke who couldn’t find a way past the Town defence sending it back to Cafu who saw his shot go wide. Rudoni had a shot from distance that bothered nobody before Rathbone saw yellow for kicking the ball away after the visitors had been award a free-kick. Some nice work from Seb Revan saw him find Wyke with a cross who saw Rathbone on a run and found him only for the midfielder to send his shot straight into the waiting arms of Nicholls. Nice work from Andy Rinomhota saw him find Kioso whose shot was well held by Nicholls before Johansson did well to get to a shot from Burgzorg. Revan was the next to get a yellow for a late challenge on Brodie Spencer before the Millers made two changes fetching on Tom Eaves and Arvin Appiah for Charlie Wyke and Sam Clucas. A Wiles cross found Radinio Balker who saw his shot blocked before another Rotherham change saw Peter Kioso went down injured and Femi Seriki was brought on as his replacement with ten minutes to go. A lovely ball over the top from Rinomhota found Eaves who brought off a good save from Nicholls before Ollie Rathbone made way for Cohen Bramall. Rinomhota won a free-kick in a good crossing position off Jaheim Headley which came to nothing before Brodie Spencer went off injured, Thomas Edwards taking his place. As the five minutes of time added on ran down Town won a corner which came out for their substitute but his shot was too high leaving the game goalless.

A point is a point is a point – but, as I said earlier, it wasn’t really any good for either side. And while the Millers fans applauded their players after the final whistle the Terriers appeared to be booed by the visiting supporters.

I think a draw was a fair result this afternoon and it was certainly a change to see the Millers players going forward instead of keep passing the ball back. We gave some silly free-kicks away in dangerous places but I thought our passing was better than of late.

A week off now for internationals before the Easter games begin.

Attendance – 11,033 – 2,419 Terriers making the trip

Referee – Josh Smith