Middlesbrough 1 Rotherham United 1
Forrs 82 Cafu 59
Rotherham United came within ten minutes of getting their first away win since November 2022 but hosts Middlesbrough got a point from an eighty-second minute equaliser.
It was the visitors who had the first chance when on seven minutes when Sam Clucas did well to get the ball off a Tom Glover wayward pass and find Jordan Hugill in space the forward seeing his curling shot go just past the upright. At the other end a good challenge on Sam Greenwood from Sean Morrison got his an ovation from the following support before a good run up pitch from Cohen Bramall saw him get dispossessed when he dithered with the hosts flying down the pitch with Greenwood who sent a ball in for Hyaden Hackney with only a good challenge from Seb Revan stopping him have a shot. Dan Barlaser came over to take the resulting corner and responded to the applause the Millers fans gave their former favourite. An early change for ‘Boro saw Marcus Forrs replace an injured Isaiah Jones on the twentieth minute. Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson and Revan between them stop Forrs get to a ball from Morgan Rogers with an appeal for a penalty ignored by referee Darren Bond. Rotherham weren’t having many shots at goal but in midfield they were working well to pressure the home players into making mistakes or getting to crosses. Lee Peltier foiled a ‘Boro attack putting the ball out for a corner which Barlaser took finding Greenwood who saw Johansson fly across goal to put it behind. The Millers were forced into a change on thirty-five minutes when Cohen Bramall limped off being replaced by Peter Kioso making his first Millers appearance of the season having been brought back early for a loan spell at Peterborough. A silly challenge in the middle of the park from Morrison on Greenwood saw the Millers captain get a yellow card. With half-time approaching a Barlaser corner saw Matt Clarke rise above everyone but his header was wide. a pass back from Kioso was short to Johansson with Greenwood going for it but slipping when Kioso dashed back to stop him getting the ball. A shout for a penalty from ‘Boro players and fans fell on deaf ears with Mr Bond waving play on. A foul on Jamie Lindsay saw a yellow card for Hackney the free-kick coming to nothing before Johansson had to dash out of his area and make a challenge on Rogers near the touchline, the player demanding a card for the Millers’ ‘keeper which Mr Bond didn’t give. Some old fashioned defending from Morrison saw him throw himself down in front of Forrs to block his shot before doing to same a minute late to stop Luke Ayling getting a shot away.
No changes for either side for the second half saw the Millers start on the front foot and when some neat footwork from Peter Kioso was put out for a corner Sam Clucas saw his set-piece cause problems in the box with Jordan Hugill’s shot cleared as far as Hakeem Odoffin whose volley from the edge of the six yard box was blocked before it found Kioso who took aim from just outside the box only to see the ball curve inches wide. Just before the hour mark some sloppy play from the hosts saw Hugill win the ball in the middle of the park and sent in a lovely cross for Cafu found himself one-on-one with ‘Boro ‘keeper Tom Glover winning the battle and putting the ball in the net to put the Millers in front with the travelling six hundred and fifty plus fans saluting the Portuguese midfield’s first goal in a Rotherham shirt. Former Miller Matt Crooks came on for the host with Finn Azaz going the other way with him taking his place for a corner which came out to Luke Ayling who saw his shot go inches high. Viktor Johansson saw yellow for time wasting and was swiftly followed into the book by Sam Clucas for a poor challenge on Ayling. Johansson was in action minutes later when he had to jump to head the ball away to stop a ‘Boro attack before former Miller Dael Fry saw a shot go wide and Morgan Rogers had a chance but saw his shot go over the crossbar. Two changes for the Millers saw Jamie Lindsay and Jordan Hugill make way for Ollie Rathbone and Tom Eaves. A couple of fouls later saw the hosts make a double change with Lewis O’Brien and Josh Coburn replacing Dan Barlaser and Sam Greenwood. A minute later the hosts had equalised after some nice work between Marcus Forrs and Hayden Hackney saw Forrs shoot from a tight angle finding the back of the net. A free kick for the Millers came to nothing before Cafu was replaced by Sam Nombe. As the board went up for a further five minutes a lovely cross from Clucas found Eaves who saw his shot saved by Glover before first Rathbone then Morrison did well to block shots on goal. After some good football from the home side Josh Coburn slid in to put the ball in the net but his celebrations were cut shot by a linesman’s flag for offside the game ending one-all.
The Millers had set themselves out to defend and although it gave those of a Rotherham persuasion a few hairy moments they did just that until the eighty-second minute. When the Millers did get forward they did it calmly and had shots at goal, which have been sadly missing over the last few games.
As I’ve said before a point away isn’t to be sniffed at – although our heads are telling us that we need wins.
A free weekend next weekend could give Leam Richardson more time to work with the players – and you never know, even some new players.
Attendance – 26,140
Referee – Darren Bond
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