Millers Get Away Win Against Relegation Rivals

Derby County 0  Rotherham United 1
                                    Lindsay (86)

A late Jamie Lindsay goal gave the Millers their first win at Pride Park and their first win on Derby soil since the mid 1960’s.

It was a scrappy opening to the game on a pitch that didn’t look the best for flowing football with the hosts having the first shot on ten minutes when a Nathan Byrne cross found Graeme Shinnie whose shot was well saved by Millers’ ‘keeper Jamal Blackman. The Millers came close just before the quarter of an hour mark when a lovely ball from Angus MacDonald found Matt Crooks who turned finding Wes Harding before the defender sent the ball to Michael Smith whose shot went inches wide. A minute later the visitors were on the move again with Matt Olosunde crossing for Ben Wiles who saw his header go just wide. Michael Smith took the ball off Andre Wisdom finding Harding who played the ball up for the Rotherham striker only for his header to go past the post before Smith found Jamie Lindsay moments later with the Scotsman sending the ball forward looking for Crooks but it was blocked. On the twenty-sixth minute Blackman was brought into action again when Lee Buchanan sent a cracker of a shot in only for the Millers shot-stopper to bring off a save low down sending the ball out for a corner which came to nothing. The first yellow of the game went to Buchanan for a poor challenge on Lindsay with the Dan Barlaser free-kick being plucked out of the air by former Miller Kelle Roos. Another Millers free-kick saw Barlaser send it in towards Smith and Richard Wood but again Roos was there before a ball minutes later from Barlaser saw Angus MacDonald send a header again just wide. The Millers thought they’d gone in front on thirty-five minutes when the Millers skipper Wood found himself one-on-one with Roos putting the ball into the net only for a late off-side flag from the linesman to cut the (none) celebrations short. Krystian Bielik and Jamie Lindsay ended on the deck both needing treatment with the Millers getting the decision which came to nothing although Beilik was booked. Kamil Jozwiak did well to get the better of his marker but slipped as he flew into the area and the ball went high over the crossbar. A trip on Jozwiak a minute later saw Wiles yellow carded with Michael Ihiekwe dealing with the resulting set-piece. In the final minutes of the half Wiles won a free-kick which Barlaser floated in but saw it easily cleared. Goalless at half-time which looked, to me, like the Millers had the better of the game.

Derby had the first shot of the second half when Graeme Shinnie got the better of the Rotherham defence but not past Jamal Blackman who got down well but also took Angus MacDonald out, both were OK after treatment. Michael Smith did well to get back to put a shot from Nathan Byrne out for a corner which Richard Wood dealt with. Michael Ihiekwe did well minutes later to stop a cross from Lee Buchanan finding a white shirt before Smith again did well to head away the resulting corner. At the other end Shinnie did well to stop Ben Wiles in his tracks before a terrible challenge on Matt Crooks by Krystian Bielik resulted in a free-kick for Rotherham, which came to nothing. Bielik was soon replaced by Max Bird. Some good work from Smith saw him nod the ball into the path of Crooks only for Byrne to get there first followed by Byrne doing well to force Wes Harding out before he could cross the ball in. Angus MacDonald did well at the other end to keep a ball from Bird out before some superb work from Kamil Jozwiak found the Millers defence sleeping when he sent it towards Martyn Waghorn who put the ball just wide. A great tackle from Harding on Jozwiak saw the Millers defender win the ball sending it to Crooks who flew fifty yards down the pitch looking for Smith in the area but only finding Kelle Roos. A header from Waghorn was easily caught by Blackman followed by a change for the Millers with Freddie Ladapo coming on for Michael Smith. Jamie Lindsay found himself with the ball twenty yards out but the hosts cleared and then brought on Louie Sibley for Graeme Shinnie. With ten minutes to go the Millers came close when a Wiles cross found the head of Ihiekwe who put it wide followed by a Jamie Lindsay having a shot blocked. With four minutes to go a Dan Barlaser free-kick saw the ball hit the post but came out to Ihiekwe before eventually finding Lindsay in front of goal who volleyed home to give the Millers the lead. As the board went up for four more minutes Clark Robertson was brought on for Wes Harding and some good work from the substitute saw him find Ladapo who had his shot blocked As the match came to an end a free-kick for the hosts saw Blackman claim before Sibley headed wide at the back post.

You can’t ask for more than an away win! The Millers did everything they needed to do today – passed the ball about, defended well and scored the only goal of the game. Well done lads!

Up The Millers!