Brentford 5 Rotherham 1
After the Wembley win in May Rotherham United came back to earth with a bump this afternoon at Griffin Park losing five-one to Brentford.
The game was just four minutes old when the Bees took the lead after a Yoann Barbet delivery into the box found Lewis Macleod who brought off a superb save from Millers’ ‘keeper Marek Rodak but the ball fell to Neal Maupay who just tapped it into the net. Minutes later the hosts got a corner which Michael Smith managed to get a head to before Semi Ajayi managed to hack it away to safety. A challenge by Richard Wood on Ollie Watkins earned the Millers skipper the first yellow of the game with Rodak bravely blocking the resulting free-kick followed by another good save from the Rotherham shot-stopper when he tipped a shot from Romaine Sawyers onto the crossbar which then fell to Henrik Dalsgaard who found Maupay only for Rodak to get down well and save. At the other end Brentford’s defence were solid clearing a David Ball shot for a throw-in which was taken long by Will Vaulks but again cleared. The Millers were looking a bit ragged when Brentford had a succession of corners but after a break for drinks host ‘keeper Daniel Bentley dashed out of his goal to stop a Vaulks cross finding Joe Newell. Minutes later the visitors could have equalised when Smith found Jon Taylor who in turn found Newell whose volley brought off a wonderful save from Bentley with the resulting corner coming to nothing. Richard Wood set off at pace and got past three Brentford players before surrendering the ball to Newell then Smith with the move ending after Chris Mepham upended Ball on the edge of the area. Taylor took the free-kick but before Newell could get to it the Referee Oliver Langford gave the hosts a free-kick. As the half was coming to a close Will Vaulks, who thought a corner for the hosts should have been a goal-kick for the Millers, was booked for arguing with the referee. The resulting corner brought Brentford’s second goal when it found Ezri Konsa who flicked it towards Sergi Canos who cannoned the ball into the back of the net to make it two-nil to the Bees at half-time.
With three minutes of the second half on the clock Brentford went further ahead. A poor pass in midfield saw Neal Maupay collect sending Ollie Watkins on his way whose shot hit the underside of the crossbar and went in. At the other end Richard Wood was inches away from scoring after a Joe Newell corner while a set-piece from Newell was cut-out by the Brentford defence before it could reach Semi Ajayi. Sergi Canos brought off another save from Marek Rodak while a shot from Michael Smith at the other end was blocked by the Bees defence. Kyle Vassell was introduced by the Millers for David Ball but before the former Blackpool striker had a chance to touch the ball Brentford went four up. Lewis Macleod saw his shot well saved by Rodak but the ball again fell to Maupay who popped it into the net for his second of the game. Ben Wiles came on for Michael Smith with Brentford bringing on Said Beranhma and Alan Judge for Sergi Canos and Neal Maupay. Vassell nearly crowned his Millers debut with a goal after a lovely cross in from Joe Mattock but Daniel Bentley got down to the shot. The Millers last substitution saw Joe Newell replaced by Ryan Williams followed by Brentford bringing on Kamohelo Mokotjo for Ollie Watkins. Matty Palmer saw a low shot bungled away by Brentford followed by a super header by debutant Ben Wiles claimed by Bentley. Vassell won a free-kick for the visitors which Taylor shot over the crossbar. In the last minute of normal time Macleod let fly from the edge of the area and saw the ball nestle in the corner of the net to make it five-nil for the hosts. In time added on the Millers got one back after Vaulks let fly from the edge of the area to put the ball in the net and make it five-one.
I don’t think there’s any denying that Brentford are a good side. And I don’t think there will be many people denying that the Millers performance wasn’t at it’s best.
But, let’s remember this time last season. There’s plenty of games to go yet and plenty of time for Paul Warne to get the players geed up again.
My Man Of The Match – difficult as I’m not sure there was one. But I will mention that Will Vaulks never stopped trying and his was probably the best goal of the six. I also thought Kyle Vassell did well when he came on. And let’s not forget Rotherham Academy player Ben Wiles who did nothing wrong when he came off the bench for his debut.
Crowd – 10,297 (941 Millers)
