Derby County 6 Rotherham United 1
Waghorn (13 pen,42,71 pen) Wood (53)
Johnson (39)
Mount (48)
Holmes (62)
Rotherham United were humiliated yesterday at the hands of Derby County who were well worth their six goals at Pride Park.
While the Millers struggled from the kick-off the hosts should have been one up in the opening minutes when Richard Wood was caught napping and Martyn Waghorn looked to put Derby in front but the Millers defence came to their skippers aid and crowded him out. Down the other end the visitors had a sight on goal when a good ball in from Joe Newell found the onrushing Ryan Williams who might have put Rotherham in front if he hadn’t collided with the post having to be treated for his injuries for quite a while. Back on the pitch Williams latched onto some poor work from Mason Mount but his shot didn’t bother former Miller loanee Kelle Roos in the Derby goal.
With twelve minutes gone referee Tim Robinson awarded the home side a spot-kick after the Millers defence had given Mount far too much room and Ben Wiles bundled him over. Waghorn took the penalty and opened the scoring. The Rams and their fans were buoyed up by the goal and after Scott Malone had walked by the Millers defence without so much as a challenge Harry Wilson couldn’t quite stretch far enough to connect to the cross before Jayden Bogle sent a ball across the face of goal which hit the post and went behind. Another former Millers loanee, Tom Lawrence, skipped by his marker and let fly only to see his shot hit the side-netting before Bogle got another chance which he put behind when it looked easier to score. The Millers got a rare break when Jon Taylor was fouled and a Newell free-kick was put out for a corner which found Semi Ajayi with the Rams managing to clear the ball off the line. Five minutes before the end of the half a lovely cross in from Malone found the head of Bradley Johnson who made it two-nil. Zak Vyner was well placed moments later to stop a ball from Lawrence finding another Derby player but a minute later it was three-nil after another good cross in from Bogle wasn’t dealt with and Waghorn was there to get his second of the game. As the half went into injury time the Millers got a free-kick which Newell took and Roos had to put behind with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
Rotherham brought on Matt Crooks and Richie Towell for Ben Wiles and Jon Taylor, who had had an altercation with Jerry Yates in the first half, but it made little difference. Just three minutes in and Derby had their fourth when a ball from Jayden Bogle for Mason Mount saw the Chelsea loanee slip the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Millers’ ‘keeper Marek Rodak did well to save from Harry Wilson before a corner from Joe Newell at the other end saw skipper Richard Wood climb highest and head the ball into the net – four-one. Some good work from Towell found Vyner who crossed into the box but Billy Jones couldn’t quite keep the ball in followed by Newell trying to find Ryan Williams only to see his cross cut out by the home defence. Just after the hour mark Wilson found Mount who nodded the ball down for Duane Holmes who made it five for the hosts. The Millers came close again after a Newell cross came back off the crossbar but neither Crooks or Jones could get the ball into the net. With twenty minutes to go some hesitation from the Millers defenders let Tom Lawrence in and as he went towards goal he tripped over the outstretched arms of Rodak and the referee pointed again to the penalty spot. Up stepped Martyn Waghorn and duly scored his third goal of the afternoon to make it six-one. The final minutes of the game saw Jerry Yates limp off being replaced by Anthony Forde and Derby fetching on Ashley Cole, Mason Bennett and Jack Marriott for Mount, Malone and Waghorn.
The Millers were on the back foot from the kick-off this afternoon and looked like a group of players who’d never met each other before. Yes, we were a depleted side with players suspended and ill but one thing I expect from a Paul Warne side is that, whoever they are, wherever they play they will fight – I’m afraid that was sadly lacking yesterday. I think we are now in the realms of every game is a must win game and, if I’m being truly honest, I can’t see that happening. But, as a Miller, I really hope I’m proved wrong.
