Millers Relegated After Plymouth Defeat

Rotherham United 0 Plymouth Argyle 1
                                             Mumba 32


Rotherham United are the first team in the English football league to be relegated after tonight’s home loss against Plymouth Argyle – although the writing has been on the wall for some weeks.

The Millers started brightly in front of the Sky cameras with a fast break by Ollie Rathbone see Seb Revan get the ball and trying his luck from outside the box but seeing the ball go way over the crossbar. Rotherham won a throw-in which Lee Peltier took long finding Sam Clucas who saw his header blocked by a defender before an Adam Randall corner at the other end saw the ball hit a number of players of both teams before being cleared. A run down the wing by Cohen Bramall saw Sam Nombe keep with him and the striker got the ball only for his shot from outside the box was blocked with Ryan Hardie becoming the provider at the other end for Callum Wright but his run was cut short by a splendid tackle from Hakeem Odoffin with the resulting corner falling into the arms of Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson. A nice work from the hosts saw Revan get to a cross from Bramall who sent the ball out for Ollie Rathbone who in turn found Clucas in room only for the midfielder to hit it straight into the waiting arms of Argyle Goalie Michael Cooper. Hardie found himself in acres of space minutes later and crossed the ball for Wright to head in at close range but somehow he missed before Wright had another chance to shoot getting the better of Odoffin and running into the box but he couldn’t decided what to do and Odoffin got back to clear. Some good work from Andy Rinomhota saw him find Revan but his cross-come-shot was too near to Cooper before Revan kept close to Bali Mumba to stop him getting a shot away. But two minutes later Argyle took the lead. Morgan Whittaker sent a superb ball across the park into the path of Mumba who took one touch and let fly sending the ball into the net at the near post sending the thousand travelling Plymouth fans wild. The Millers went to pieces and couldn’t keep the ball and Mumba repaid the favour by getting the ball to the foot of Whittaker whose shot from distance was pushed behind by a diving Johansson. A Clucas free-kick fell to Cameron Humphreys whose header went wide . As the clock ticked over into time added on Wright got himself into a good position and one on one with Johansson who denied the Argyle forward at point-blank range.

At the start of the second half Andy Rinomhota won a free-kick which saw the Millers win a corner which was taken by Sam Clucas with Hakeem Odoffin rising highest but putting the ball into the crowd behind the goal. At the other end Viktor Johansson did well to get his fingertips to a Morgan Whittaker shot and put it behind for a corner before another opportunity fell to Whittaker but Johansson was there and jumped high to catch and hold onto the ball. A foul on Ollie Rathbone saw another Millers free-kick wasted with Argyle winning the ball back and Johansson saving from Whittaker. A triple change for Rotherham saw Cafu, Tom Eaves and Jamie Lindsay take the pitch with Ollie Rathbone, Charlie Wyke and Andy Rinomhota going the other way. A Bali Mumba cross found Jordan Houghton but his shot was an easy save for Johansson before the Millers had two good chances but both times Eaves was caught offside. A Plymouth change saw Adam Forshaw come on for Callum Wright. The Millers had a couple of corners the second one seeing Clucas find Cohen Bramall whose shot from six yards out went wide – (from where I sat it looked so much easier to score). A forward kick from Lee Peltier saw a fumble by the Argyle ‘keeper who managed to get hold of the ball at the second attempt to stop Sam Nombe get to it. Cafu won a free-kick which eventually found Cameron Humphreys who sent it Seb Revan but his shot was too high and wide. Cafu sent a lovely ball for Revan who got away from his marker his shot at goal seeing Michael Cooper get it away before Johansson had to be on his toes at the other end to stop Ryan Hardie doubling the visitors lead which was followed a few minutes later by a Forshaw shot going wide. Another change for the visitors saw  Ben Waine replace Ryan Hardie. The Millers had a chance with fifteen minutes to go when Cafu sent a cross to Odoffin who let fly from just outside the box but it went wide which was followed by Cohen Bramall making way for Shane Ferguson. And it was the Millers substitute who set Cafu up for a shot but the ball was blocked and cleared by the green shirted defenders of Plymouth. Some great work from Ben Waine saw him allowed to run forty-five yards and have a shot which Johansson was equal too. Arvin Appiah was the next change for the Millers taking over from Lee Peltier and a few minute later Argyle brought on Mustapha Bunda and Brendon Gallloway to replace Morgan Whittaker and Bali Mumba. A cross from Adam Randall found Dan Scarr inside the box but his header was an easy save from Johansson before the Millers’ ‘keeper pushed away a shot from Joe Edwards with Eaves on hand to clear up the pitch. A couple of minutes later Johansson did well again when he made himself big and save again from Waine.

So, that’s it – the Millers will be playing League One football next season – and, let’s be honest, we’ve really known this for a few weeks now, it’s just been the when and where.

Still games left to play – and players to show us what they have now the pressure is off.

Attendance –  9,863 (1,005 making the long trip from Plymouth)

Referee – Oliver Langford