Good Friday For The Millers

Rotherham United 3 West Bromwich Albion 1
Hugill 42, 50                     Swift 32 (pen)
Fosu 76


Goals from Jordan Hugill either side of half-time plus Tariqe Fosu’s first in a Millers short gave Rotherham United a deserved three points this afternoon at the New York Stadium.

After a delay from what looked like electrical problems with the officials equipment, it was West Brom who had the first chance after some nice football from Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Daryl Dike sent a shot in which brought some early action for Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson who palmed the ball away. At the other end Rotherham really should have done better when a Fosu ball found Leo Hjelde whose cracker of a shot came back off Joshua Griffiths’ chest landing at the feet of Chieo Ogbene who in turn found Hugill the big number ten putting the ball inches past the post. It was similar at the other end on ten minutes when a Jed Wallace cross was allowed to go across the face of goal before finding Dike who saw his shot go just wide. Hugill won a free-kick which the referee stopped the hosts taking while there was a minute’s applause from all four stands for Millers fan Andy Wood who sadly passed away recently. The free-kick came to nothing. Johansson got down well to a shot from Wallace which was followed by Bailey Wright receiving treatment and having to be helped from the pitch Tyler Blackett taking his place on the twenty-fifth minute. Rotherham won a couple of corners before Jamie Lindsay saw a shot blocked which was followed by some nice footwork from Fosu who saw his shot go wide. Just after the half-hour mark Hugill fouled Conor Townsend giving away a penalty which former Miller John Swift duly put away giving the visitors the lead. Another chance for the hosts after a super cross from Wes Harding found the head of Hugill but he put the ball just over the crossbar. Another chance for Rotherham a minute later saw Shane Ferguson twist and turn before finding room to shoot but Griffiths came off his line to save. Another corner for Rotherham on forty-two minutes saw Conor Coventry send it in finding Hugill who made his way through a host of players to head in the equaliser. And it might have been two a minute later when some good work from Chieo Ogbene brought off an equally good save from Griffiths. Another corner from Coventry which the Baggies couldn’t clear and after it pin-balled around the area the Millers players arms were raised for handball as Hugill bent to head the ball towards goal which first the crossbar then the post kept him from getting his second. There was a lot of discussion between the Rotherham players and the referee as they left the pitch at half-time as to whether the hosts should have had a penalty or had the ball in fact gone over for a goal? Well, nothing was given and it was one-all at half-time.


No changes for either team at half-time with the first yellow being shown just minutes into the second half to Leo Hjelde after he pulled John Swift back. Jordan Hugill won a free-kick which Shane Ferguson sent into the box with Hugill rising highest sending the ball into the back of the net for his, and the Millers’, second of the afternoon. Brandon Thomas-Asante was given too much room and turning in the box his shot went straight into the waiting arms of Viktor Johansson. Hugill might have had his hat-trick after he latched on to a long ball up-field from Leo Hjelde but Baggies’ ‘keeper Joshua Griffiths denied him. West Brom made a triple change fetching on Marc Albrighton, Tomas Rogic and Kyle Bartley for John Swift, Darnell Furlong and former Millers fans’ favourite Semi Ajayi. A Baggies corner caused a bit of a problem in the Millers’ box before the ball found its way to Erik Pieters whose shot from outside the box went wide. The Millers fans were on their feet on sixty-five minutes when Ollie Rathbone came off the bench for his first action since the end of February with Shane Ferguson going the other way. Yet another foul on Hugill saw referee Tim Robinson show a yellow card to Conor Townsend and the Millers forward won another set-piece minutes later after he’d taken the ball off Bartley who then dragged Hugill back. It was a good free-kick from Coventry but was defended well. Another change for the visitors saw Karlan Grant replace Brandon Thomas-Asante. A long pass from Albrighton was intercepted by Harding who was unceremoniously dragged back by the latest substitute who saw yellow for his trouble. Tariqe Fosu sent a super ball for Chieo Ogbene who shot from just outside the box but saw the ball hit the post before ending up with Rathbone who in turn found Fosu, the Brentford loanee getting the better of his marker and putting the ball into the net from close range. Rathbone brought Nathaniel Chalobah down and was duly booked. Rathbone was then in action when he tried his luck from outside the box but the ball hit Fosu who was deemed to be offside. At the other end Daryl Dike sent a cracking shot into the side netting before the Millers went down the other end with Hjelde who found Hugill the Millers striker sending the ball back to Harding outside the area and with the fans from three sides of the ground shouting ‘shoot’ he obliged and brought off a great save from Griffiths. With three minutes to go Jamie Lindsay made way for Hakeem Odoffin. As the board went up for a further six minutes the Baggies won a corner which was defended well and going straight up the other end the Millers had another chance when the ball found Ogbene who, back to goal, turned and smashed the ball against the upright, again. Millers fans were holding their breath when Rathbone went down and the trainers ran onto the pitch but he was soon back on his feet albeit having to stem blood from his face.

This game was a pleasure to watch. It was entertaining, got the fans going who repaid the complement. The post/crossbar came to the visitors aid on a number of occasions. A great performance from the Millers.

Attendance 11,098 with 2,191 Baggies

Referee – Tim Robinson