Millers Down Robins

Rotherham United 2 Bristol City 0
Crooks (4)
Smith (41)

An all-round performance this afternoon saw Rotherham United get a two-nil win over Bristol City at the New York Stadium.

The game was just four minutes old when the Millers took the lead. City captain Tomas Kalas gave away a free-kick which Dan Barlaser sent into the area finding the head of Matt Crooks who couldn’t miss making it one-nil for the hosts. A minute later a free-kick for the visitors saw Nahki Wells sting the palms of Johansson in the Millers’ goal with the corner coming to nothing. The first yellow of the game went to Tommy Rowe for a high challenge on Matt Olosunde with a cross in from Michael Ihiekwe minutes later finding Ben Wiles who curled over the crossbar. Good work from Wells and Chris Martin saw him find Antoine Semenyo in good space but the front man fired over. Only some good work from City ‘keeper Daniel Bentley stopped a shot from Michael Smith finding the bottom corner of the net with Bentley doing well again to get to a Wiles cross before it found a Rotherham player. A shot from Olosunde was again pushed to safety by Bentley before a late challenge saw Jamie Lindsay get a booking. A pass from Angus MacDonald found Smith who got it down for Kyle Vassell but his effort went well over. At the other end Semenyo just failed to find Wells who was on his own in the area before Olosunde did well to stop Semenyo passing minutes later. Viktor Johansson and Richard Wood collided with the Millers’ ‘keeper needing treatment. On thirty-five minutes the Millers had a good shout for a spot-kick when Adam Nagy tripped Olosunde in the box but referee Leigh Doughty wasn’t interested. A cross from Wood found the head of Crooks but went just over before a great cross from Barlaser saw Smith not quite get there. With four minutes of the half left the hosts doubled the lead after a pass from Crooks found Olosunde who sent in a cross that found Smith who slotted home. And a bit of luck might have made it three when Crooks received a thrown-in ball from Olosunde and found Lindsay who saw his shot go just past the upright.

The Robins made two substitutions for the start of the second half with former Rotherham loanees Jack Hunt and Zak Vyner making way for Famara Diedhiou and Adrian Mariappa. A cross from Michael Ihiekwe found the head of Kyle Vassell who put the ball wide before a Matt Olosunde cross found Matt Crooks who slipped the ball into the waiting hands of Daniel Bentley. Barlaser was the next to set Vassell off but the Millers number seven slipped and the ball went out for a Bristol City throw-in. At the other end Viktor Johansson did well to put the ball out from a Diedhioiu shot with the Millers defence clearing the resulting corner. A third change for the visitors saw Chris Brunt on for Tyreeq Bakinson followed a few minutes later by the first change for the Millers which saw Kyle Vassell trudge off looking a little upset with the decision and Freddie Ladapo taking his place. More good ‘keeping from Johansson saw him claim from a Brunt free-kick. Ladapo saw a shot blocked at the other end before Ben Wiles turned the Bristol defence inside out before finding Ladapo but again his shot was blocked. After getting a cross from Wiles Michael Smith did well to get the better of Mariappa only to see his shot saved by Bentley. With eight minutes of normal time left the Millers had a great chance when a lovely cross from Lindsay deflected into the path of Wiles only for the lad from Rawmarsh to fire into the side netting. Barlaser came close when he shot from just outside the box and brought off a good save from Bentley before a Barlaser corner found Smith in the box but again Bentley came to the aid of the Robins. Jamie Lindsay and Matt Olosunde had worked their socks off and were taken off for Billy Jones and Wes Harding. Just after the board when up for six minutes a Brunt cross found Nahki Wells in the box but his header bothered nobody. George Hirst was the last Millers change seeing Michael Smith make way for him.

What a good game for Rotherham this afternoon with every player playing their heart out for the club. There was good passing, good shots, good play which gave us three points.

Well done Rotherham – more of the same on Wednesday night please!