Millers Dumped Out Of Cup By Fleetwood

Fleetwood Town 2-1 Rotherham United
Graydon (16, 29)            McCart (2)

Rotherham United couldn’t make it to the second round of the Carabao Cup despite taking an early lead and having chances in the second half against a resilient Fleetwood Town this evening.

The game was less that two minutes old when Jonson Clarke-Harris won a free-kick for the Millers which Powell took swinging it into the box causing problems before Jamie McCart took charge smashing the ball home for his first goal in Rotherham colours. Fleetwood came close to equalising and only Callum Dawson in the Rotherham goal stopping Matty Virtue from doing so before the hosts won a corner which was sent in by Mark Helm finding Ryan Graydon who saw his shot from close quarters rattle the crossbar before going out to safety. A minute later Town were level after some nice football the ball fell to Virtue who found Graydon in the area who shot past Dawson into the net. At the other end Jack Holmes got the ball into the area which Hakeem Odoffin got too but saw his shot blocked. A corner for the Millers was sent in by Joe Powell finding McCart who headed the ball down but it was defended well. More good passing football from the host saw Harrison Holgate get a lovely ball to Graydon who saw his shot well saved by Dawson before Elliott Bonds had a shot which was blocked for a corner. Virtue had a couple of shots before it went up the other end coming to nothing except a break for the hosts who swept down the pitch with Danny Mayor who found Graydon who shot into the top left hand corner of the net to make it two-one to Fleetwood. A cross from Alex MacDonald to Odoffin who put the ball over. A corner for the Millers was crossed into the box by Odoffin finding the head of McCart who put it past the upright. An injury to Graydon saw the first change of the game for the hosts just before half-time with Tom Lonergan coming on to replace the double goal scorer. Another chance for Town saw Mackenzie Hunt put the ball wide as the half came to an end.

The Millers made three changes for the start of the second half Shane McWiliams, Sam Nombe and Reece James coming on to replace Jack Holmes, Cohen Bramall and Joe Hungbo. A throw for the Millers brought the first yellow of the game for Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu who threw the ball down in anger, the throw coming to nothing. Mallik Wilks won a free-kick which Alex MacDonald took finding Jonson Clarke-Harris Mayor got the ball and was taking it down field before being stopped by MacDonald who took the ball forward before losing it. Nombe won a free-kick which MacDonald took fidning the head of McCart but the home defenders got it away and made a counter-attack which Wilks did well to put out for a throw-in. A yellow card for Tom Lonergan after he pulled back Hakeen Odoffin saw a free-kick for the visitors but it was dealt with. Nombe got the ball from MacDonald who tried a shot from a tight angle fetching a good save from Jay Lynch which was followed by another change for the Millers with Liam Kelly coming on for Joe Powell. A free-kick for the Millers was taken short by MacDonald to Wilks who shot at goal, Lynch pushing it out as far as Nombe who couldn’t quite get a shot away. A pull back by Virtue for a foul earned him a yellow card and saw another dangerous ball into the area finding the head of Clarke-Harris with Lynch getting down well to save. A cross from James for Wilks saw the Millers loanee put the ball just over the crossbar as he twisted to get it. Close again for the hosts after some more good passing with Virtue putting the ball in the box to Lonergan who chested the ball out. Ryan Broom and Phoenix Patterson joined the pitch for Fleetwood with Mark Helm and Danny Mayor making way. A good chance for Rotherham saw the ball sent long by Dawson eventually finding Nombe who sent the ball into the area for Wilks who rose highest seeing the ball hammer against the crossbar coming out to MacDonald who saw his shot blocked. At the other end a long ball from Lynch found Broom who got away from his marker and raced towards goal shooting past Dawson into the net but the flag went up for offside. Kayden Hughes did well to take the ball off a Rotherham forwards head to clear in front of goal. A super cross from MacDonald was brought down by Nombe with him putting the box into the centre for his captain with Clarke-Harris just not able to get to it. A foul on Kelly saw Odoffin get booked for protesting while Bonds was eventually yellow carded for dangerous play. Another change for the Millers saw them bring on Asapa Osong with Mallik Wilks going the other way. Clarke-Harris saw a yellow for upending Bonds before  Ademipo Odubeko replaced Tom Lonergan for the hosts. A good ball into the area by Broom was defended by Cameron Humphreys who put it behind for a corner which came to nothing. In the last seconds of the three added on a long drive up field from Dawson found Clarke-Harris who sent the ball to McWilliams who was off-balance and put the ball over the crossbar.

An early lead for the Millers but they still couldn’t get an away win. They had their moments, Fleetwood, I think, played the better football in the first half, Rotherham had the better chances in the second.

Attendance – 1,744

Referee – Ross Joyce