Millers Fail To Hold Onto Lead

Queens Park Rangers 2  Rotherham United 1
Smyth (61)                               Eaves (7)
Willock (75)

Another away game where the Millers took an early lead and another away game where we couldn’t hang on with QPR coming back to win two-one.

It was a good start for the Millers the ball finding Tom Eaves with his shot from outside the box blocked before they had two more chances, the first when Sam Clucas tried his luck from distance which was cleared but only as far as Femi Seriki who saw his shot go wide. Some poor defending by the hosts saw the ball find Sam Nombe who headed it onto Eaves the tall striker getting his second goal in two games putting it over Asmir Begovic in the Rangers’ goal. Minutes later Peter Kioso received a good ball from Clucas in a good position but his shot was saved by Begovic before the Millers midfielder did well to get down the other end to block a shot from Chris Willock. Rangers got forward again with Jack Colback finding Michael Frey who saw Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson bring off a brilliant save low down to keep the score at one-nil to Rotherham. Joe Hodge then forced Johansson into putting the ball behind for a corner which came to nothing. At the other end Andy Rinomhota sent Nombe off on a run but Jake Clarke-Slater got to the ball before him. Another fantastic save from Johansson stopped Steve Cook equalising when he put the ball over the bar for a corner which again came to nothing. At the other end Eaves nodded the ball down for Nombe but he saw his shot from just outside the box go over the crossbar. A nasty foul on Morrison brought a yellow card for Isaac Hayden the resulting Clucas free-kick being sent in with Eaves and Hakeem Odoffin both going up at the same time and getting in each others way, the ball going for a goal-kick. An Ilias Chair free-kick was cleared by Morrison but only as far as Willock who saw Nombe get the better of him putting the ball behind, the set-piece being taken short to Chair who brought off yet another good save from Johansson which was then cleared by Eaves. A throw-in for the Millers saw Cameron Humphreys take charge but not quick enough and Referee Matt Donohue showed him a yellow card. Eaves, Nombe and Seriki all went forward with the Millers winning a free-kick after Joe Hodge pulled the Sheffield United loanee back and was shown a yellow card. Twice Andy Rinomhota got forward the second time setting Nombe off on a run but Cook was with him all the way winning a free-kick, which the Millers man objected too, the players having a ‘few words’ before Mr Donohue settled it with a few words of his own. At the other end Willock got the better of his marker but not of Morrison who blocked a cross for a corner which Johansson caught. In the final minute of the extra four Colback ended up on the floor in the penalty area with the home fans all shouting for a penalty which Mr Donohue rightly ignored.

Rangers made a half-time change with Joe Hodge making way for Paul Smyth. Tom Eaves sent a lovely ball for Andy Rinomhota who sent it short to Peter Kioso in the area who let it bounce and it went out for a Rangers throw-in. Smyth got hold of the ball and pushed it past Sam Clucas the Hoops substitute diving and feigning injury but was given nothing – why not a yellow for simulation? Answers on a postcard. A cross from Ilias Chair meant for Michael Frey was caught by Viktor Johansson before an Hakeem Odoffin ball meant for Eaves saw the Miller take exception to being pushed and pulled before Mr Donohue had words with both players. A long throw from Smyth was flicked on by Dunne before finding Colback who sent it back to Dunne, Kioso winning a free-kick. Rinomhota got forward sending a ball for Nombe only for Willock to get back and knock it out for a throw-in which Seam Morrison launched into the box but nobody wanted to take charge of it and it ended up back with Johansson who did well to get it back upfield for Nombe to chase but it came to nothing. Rinomhota sent the ball forward for Nombe before being clattered by Colback, the Millers forward seeing his shot blocked and the Rangers player seeing a yellow card. Nice work from the hosts saw them get into the box with Femi Seriki looking to put his hands on the back of a Rangers player who went down but referee Donohue shook his head. That was Seriki’s last moment in the game with Cafu coming off the bench in his place. A shot from some twenty-five yards out from Hakeem Odoffin went wide before Sam Field fell over, everyone ignoring him, Cafu getting the ball and sending it to Clucas who couldn’t find a black shirted player. A lovely ball to Christ Tiehi found Rinomhota who in turn found Eaves the tall forward seeing his shot go inches past the upright. The hosts went forward again with Chris Willock putting a lovely through ball for Smyth who got behind Cameron Humphreys to shoot in from close range and get the equaliser. A minute later Jimmy Dunne found himself in space but saw his header go over before some nice work from the Millers saw them down the other end and getting the ball into the box before it came back out to Morrison who sent it back in for Odoffin whose header was saved by Asmir Begovic. Ilias Chair was allowed to run down the pitch before sending it to Willock on the edge of the area who saw his shot fly into the top corner to put the hosts in front. Two changes for the Millers saw Jordan Hugill and Charlie Wyke take over up front from Tom Eaves and Sam Nombe. A shot from Willock was well saved by Johansson before Chair had a shot blocked. With five minutes of the nineties left changes saw Lyndon Dykes and  Ziyad Larkeche come on for the hosts with Michael Frey and Kenneth Paal going the other way while Andy Rinomhota and Cameron Humphreys made way for Jamie Lindsay and Arvin Appiah for the visitors. As the board went up for an extra six minutes Smyth was booked for time wasting before a last change for the hosts saw Ilias Chair go off and Lucas Anderson come on. A long Millers clearance found Kioso’s head who couldn’t find anyone with his flick on before Tiehi and Colback went down the line together both players ending on the floor, the hosts getting the free-kick. A throw-in for the Millers saw Morrison throw long which both Begovic and Kioso going for it, the goalkeeper claiming it as the whistle went for full-time.

A very good first half, which included some great saves from Viktor Johansson and some nervous play from Rangers was turned on it’s head in the second half with the hosts coming back to win the game two-one.

Another game we probably should have got something from. Another game we came away with nothing.

Referee – Matt Donohue

Attendance – 16,351 – 609 of those being Millers