Match Reports

Last Friendly Sees Home Loss

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Rotherham 0 Middlesbrough 1
                             McNair (14)

Rotherham United’s final pre-season game of the season ended in a loss after Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough got the only goal of the game.

The Millers had the first shot at goal when Kieran Sadlier tried a low effort from some twenty yards out which was easy for ‘Boro ‘keeper Joe Lumley. At the other end a block from A Trialist fell to Matt Crooks whose shot was also blocked. Some worrying signs for Rotherham as goalkeeper Viktor Johansson went down and had to be replaced by Josh Chapman. On fourteen minutes the visitors won a free-kick which Paddy McNair steered onto the inside of the post and into the net to give ‘Boro the opening goal. A few minutes later Chapman got down well to save at the second attempt from a Sam Morsy shot before Neil Warnock was forced to make a change when Isaiah Jones suffered a facial injury and was replaced by Jack Robinson. Jonny Howson got a yellow from referee James Bell for a poor challenge on Jamie Lindsay. Joshua Kayode won the Millers a corner with Lumley punching away Sadlier’s set-piece. Shaun Ferguson took one for the team by getting a yellow for a challenge on Duncan Watmore which stopped ‘Boro breaking. A minute later Josh Coburn shot from point-blank range which was well saved by Chapman although the flag went up for offside. Rotherham got a free-kick thirty yards out which Sadlier took, catching Lumley napping, only to see his shot go just over before another free-kick saw Ferguson find the head of Michael Smith with the ‘Boro defence doing their work leaving the score at one-nil to the visiting team at half-time.

Paul Warne’s side started the second half with three substitutions Michael Smith, Jamie Lindsay and Shane Ferguson making way for Freddie Ladapo, Ben Wiles and A Trialist with Neil Warnock following suit bringing on Sol Bamba, Uche Ikpeazu and Chuba Akpom for Grant Hall, Duncan Watmore and Josh Coburn.

In the opening minute of the half Jake Hull found Dan Barlaser with a lovely ball whose shot was put behind for a corner which was taken short seeing Ladapo win a second corner which was again taken short finding Wiles who saw him shot cleared. Minutes later a Wes Harding throw found Barlaser whose cross was saved by Joe Lumley. Causing some problems since coming on Ladapo won a free-kick about eighteen yards from goal which Barlaser bent round the wall and Lumley scrambled away to safety. On the hour mark a super cross from Anfernee Dijksteel found the head of Bamba but the Ivory Coast internationals header bothered nobody before the Millers gave Akpom far too much room with his shot from inside the box whistling past the upright. Richard Wood and Dan Barlaser were subbed the Millers fetching on Mickel Miller and Chieo Ogbene. Again Akpom looked to have got the better of the home defence but a well-timed tackle from Hull got the Millers out of trouble before a solo move from Ikpeazu but the tall forward couldn’t find a green shirt in the box. Nathan Wood came on for the visitors for former Miller Dael Fry. A Trialist did well to squirm passed his marker and send Ladapo off only for the Millers’ striker to put the ball out of play. With fifteen minutes to go Matt Crooks played his last game at the New York Stadium (unless we get ‘Boro in a cup competition) getting applause from all round the ground Jamie Paterson coming on in his place while Anfernee Dijksteel and Jonny Howson made way for Djed Spence and Connor Malley. A pass from Ogbene found A Trialist who again got away from his marker with some good footwork, his pass being blocked. Another two changes for the hosts saw Jerome Greaves and Jacob Gratton come on for Joshua Kayode and Kieran Sadlier followed by Wes Harding making way for Jake Cooper while ‘Boro brought on Hayden Hackney for Sam Morsy. Only a foul stopped Ogbene in his tracks leading to a free-kick which came to nothing. As the game came to an end Cooper did well to get to a shot putting it behind for a corner.

A home defeat for Rotherham but again it was a good workout with seventeen players playing some part in the game. A week before the season starts and I think the lads will be working hard.

TEAMS
Rotherham
Johansson (Chapman 10)
Trialist
Hull
Wood (Miller 64)
Harding (Cooper 83)
Sadlier (Gratton 77)
Lindsay (Wiles 45)
Barlaser (Ogbene 64)
Ferguson (A Trialist 45)
Smith (Ladapo 45)
Kayode. (Greaves 77)

Subs Not Used – Greaves, Durose

Middlesbrough
Lumley
Dijksteel (Spence 75)
Fry (Wood 69)
Hall (Bamba 45)
McNair
Jones (Robinson 27)
Morsy (Hackney 82)
Howson (Malley 75)
Crooks (Paterson 75)
Watmore (Ikpeazu 45)
Coburn (Akpom 45)

Subs Not Used – Stojanovic


Attendance – 3,567 (1,180 ‘Boro Fans)

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