Millers Lose Out In South Yorkshire Derby

Rotherham United 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1
                                             Ugbo 66

Rotherham United weren’t at the races this afternoon with the South Yorkshire derby seeing a win for our visitors.

Viktor Johansson, in the Millers goal, was called into action early in the game when he did well to palm away a shot from Liam Palmer before Pol Valentin had to be on his toes at the other end to stop a ball from Shane Ferguson finding Sam Clucas. Ferguson and Clucas then worked well together with the latter sending the ball in for Tom Eaves only to see visiting ‘keeper James Beadle there to collect. A corner for the visitors saw former Miller Will Vaulks send the ball to Barry Bannan to shoot the ball going wide. Anthony Musaba showed clean heels to his marker to get into the box and cross for Ike Ugbo whose shot was put behind by Cameron Humphreys the corner coming to nothing. A foul on Ian Poveda by Humphreys saw two Owls players over it with Vaulks seeing space and deciding to shoot only for Johansson to fly across goal to put it out for a corner which Bannan takes but is saved by the Millers’ ‘keeper. The Owls thought they had gone in front on eighteen minutes after a Vaulks set-piece was headed in by Akin Famewo and while the centre-back was racing behind the goal to celebrate with the two hundred plus travelling fans the Millers fans were pointing out to him that the flag had gone up for offside. Minutes later Vaulks and Famewo worked together again and when it looked easier to score the centre-back sent the ball backwards and the danger was over. Another corner for the visitors saw Marvin Johnson get the ball into Poveda who was making a nuisance of himself in the box but he bent his shot past the post. At the other end a rare venture up front from the hosts saw Peter Kisoso send a low ball in for Eaves who got his toe to it but former Miller Michael Ihiekwe cleared for a corner which Ferguson sent in which was cleared as far as Andy Rinomhota who sent it back to Ferguson to put it back into the box which eventually found Christ Tiehi who put it over the crossbar. Hakeem Odoffin did well to get a foot to a goal bound shot from Musaba putting the ball over for a corner which saw Johansson punch clear but only as far as Vaulks who saw his shot go wide. A foul on Famewo saw the first yellow for the afternoon go to Odoffin before a number of free-kicks and corners for the visitors ended the half.

The second half started with a number of fouls and free-kicks before some good thinking from Lee Peltier saw him send the ball forward for Tom Eaves in the box who was unceremoniously pulled down by Pol Valentin but referee David Webb waved away any appeals. The first change of the game saw Lee Peltier replaced by Jamie Lindsay. Ike Ugbo saw yellow for throwing the ball away before a cross into the box from Barry Bannan saw Viktor Johansson come forward to collect before it found Ihiekwe who was in plenty of space. A quick throw-in from Sam Clucas found Eaves who sent the ball for Sam Nombe to shoot from distance the ball going inches over. Minutes later a Bannan corner for the visitors saw it fall to Marvin Johnson who sent his shot wide which was followed by a change of views between Andy Rinomhota and Johnson, Mr Webb speaking to them both. Three changes for the Owls saw Will Vaulks, Pol Valentin and Ian Poveda make way for former Miller Michael Smith, Dominic Iorfa and Djeidi Gassama. Smith won a free-kick which Bannan sent in for Iorfa who saw his shot saved by Johansson. But two minutes later the Owls went in front after Sam Nombe got the ball and flew up the wing but, for some reason stopped, and turned round sending the ball backwards which fell to a blue-and-white shirted player who got the ball to Anthony Musaba who gave it to Ugbo his shot from two yards away finding the back of the net. Three changes for the Millers saw Cafu, Jordan Hugill and Charlie Wyke replace Shane Ferguson, Sam Nombe and Tom Eaves. Rotherham got a free-kick after Ihiekwe pushed Hugill over which Cafu sent long for Hugill but his control let him down and it flew over the crossbar. The hosts went close a couple of minutes later with both Wyke and Hugill doing well to keep the ball moving in the box before it fell to Rinomhota who sent a hard low shot towards goal which seemed to have the beating of James Beadle only for Bannan to get there and kick it off the line. Wednesday brought on Bambo Diaby for Anthony Musaba while the Millers replaced Sam Clucas with Arvin Appiah. Peter Kioso sent a lovely ball in for Rinomhota who saw his shot blocked before a poor challenge on Hakeem Odoffin brought a yellow card for Smith. As the board went up for a further seven minutes the visitors had a couple of corners before fetching on Mallik Wilks for Ike Ugbo the substitutes first action in the game seeing him head a cross from Johnson onto the crossbar before it went out to safety.

It wasn’t good enough from Rotherham United today. There was little to no effort in the first half and we could easily have been three down going in at half-time. We did rally a little in the second half with a couple of shots towards goal but this will be one game that, for Millers fans, will be best forgotten.

Attendance – 11,541 – 2,100 Owls in the ground)
Referee – David Webb