Rotherham United 1 Ipswich Town 0
Wood 42
Rotherham United went back to top of the table this evening with a Richard Wood goal just before half-time beating Ipswich Town, who dropped down from first to third, at the New York Stadium.
To be fair in the first half it was hard to realise that these two teams were at the top of League One it being very much a start/stop game with neither goalkeeper having much to do. Matt Crooks saw a header go wide but not a lot else happened until the eleventh minute when Hakeeb Adelakun was hacked down by Emyr Huws (who himself spent more time laying on the floor than standing) with the resulting free-kick finding Kyle Vassell who saw his shot smash the crossbar. Some minutes later some good work from Dan Barlaser found Adelakun with only a good save from Town ‘keeper Will Norris stopping him getting his first Rotherham goal before another Barlaser free-kick caused all sorts of problems in the Ipswich box with Norris claiming the ball amid a sea of red. On the twenty-fifth minute all four sides of the New York Stadium paid their respects to Jordan Sinnott who sadly passed away at the weekend with applause. Even though there had been some blatant fouls on Rotherham players, some obvious time-wasting by the lads in blue it was Crooks who received the first yellow of the game for a foul on Will Keane. With three minutes to go before the break a Barlaser free-kick found Michael Smith who saw his header stopped by Norris but fall to skipper Richard Wood who headed in from close range to a chorus of ‘Richard Wood is magic . . .’ from the home supporters. Ipswich had half-a-chance in time added on when a Kayden Jackson cross went into the box but Michael Ihiekwe was there to head away.
The Millers started the second half looking like they’d soon double their lead and when Hakeeb Adelakun found Kyle Vassell all the striker had to do was give it back to the winger on loan from Bristol City but he over hit the ball and it came to nothing. Ten minutes in and it might have been two when a super ball in from Adelakun found Chieo Ogbene at the back post but it bounced awkwardly and went over his head. Kyle Vassell tried his overhead kick but saw it blocked followed by Ogbene running down the wing into the area only for his shot to be well saved by Will Norris with Norris in the action again minutes later when he managed to get a cross from Vassell away before Smith got on the end of it. The hosts thought they’d got a second when Wood headed in again and referee Antony Coggins appeared to point to the middle for the re-start but then gave a foul on Norris. The first change of the evening saw Ipswich bring on James Norwood for Will Keane followed a few minutes later by Emyr Huws making way for Jon Nolan. The Millers first change was Ben Wiles for Matt Crooks. Rotherham got a corner which Dan Barlaser swung in finding the head of Michael Ihiekwe with Norris parrying away to safety followed by sub Wiles letting fly from the edge of the area only for the ball to go inches wide with Norris rooted to the spot. Another Millers sub saw Freddie Ladapo on for Kyle Vassell. On seventy-seven minutes it really should have been two after some neat footwork from Adelakun saw his bending shot rattle the crossbar and go out to safety – surely they’d score soon. A poor foul on Ogbene earned Luke Woolfenden a booking while at the other end Alan Judge and Kayden Jackson worked well with Millers’ ‘keeper Daniel Iversen getting down well to the shot from the latter. That was Judge’s last contribution with Ipswich’s last change seeing him go off for Freddie Sears. A silly challenge on James Norwood when he got past him saw a yellow card for Joe Mattock with the dangerous free-kick from Luke Garbutt tipped over by Iversen. The Millers last substitution saw Matthew Olosunde on for Hakeeb Adelakun. The board went up for five extra minutes and the Millers had to hang on a bit when a shot from a very tight angle from Norwood rolled across goal and hit the upright before the Millers got it away and it was a very thankful nine thousand who breathed a big sigh of relief when the final whistle finally went.
It wasn’t the best first half but, to be fair, Ipswich hardly bothered the Millers with Iversen very much a spectator for those forty-five minutes. Both sides were better in the second with the Millers having more chances to make the points safe. But we did and we are now back on top of the table – long may it last!
Crowd – 9,327 (923 Tractor Boys)
Referee – Antony Coggins – and again we find ourselves shaking our head at some of his decisions this evening.
