Rotherham United’s fourteen game unbeaten run came to an end yesterday at the hands of Rochdale who made it another step towards League One survival with Stephen Humphrys scoring the only goal of the game.
A scrappy first half saw the Millers have the first chance when a Josh Emmanuel throw-in found David Ball who flicked the ball to Anthony Forde with the winger putting the ball just wide of the Rochdale goal. Millers’ ‘keeper Marek Rodak was brought into the game on twelve minutes when he did well to see the danger from Andrew Cannon and rushed out to smother the ball. A minute the visitors looked like taking the lead after Humphreys flicked the ball on to Matt Done who was only denied from some superb defending from winger Forde after he threw himself along the line to keep the ball out. At the other end Semi Ajayi saw a header go wide while a ball in from Joe Newell evaded everyone. Richard Wood kept the score at nil-nil after Done did well to beat Rodak but couldn’t beat the Millers skipper who cleared off the line. Will Vaulks had a chance when the ball fell to him outside the box but saw his effort clear the crossbar before trouble at the other end again when Done got the ball and only a deflection off a home defenders boot took the ball behind followed by Ajayi getting in the way of an Ian Henderson effort only for it to fall to Humphreys who put it wide. As the half came to an end Callum Camps tried his luck with a shot that Rodak volleyed away and Wood cleared. In time added on the Millers thought they’d gone in front when a Forde free-kick was swung into the box finding the head of Wood who put the ball over the line. Referee Graham Salisbury appeared to give the goal but with Dale ‘keeper Josh Lillis on the floor changed his mind and said it was a foul on the goalie. (Ed Note – after now seeing this incident back there was a foul on the ‘keeper – by one of his own defenders. Thanks Mr Salisbury).
The second half began with Marek Rodak again in the action after some nice work from former Millers loanee Ian Henderson the ball fell to Bradden Inman who found himself one-on-one with Rodak only for the Millers shot stopper to make another fantastic save. At the other end Joe Mattock tried a shot from distance that bothered nobody. The first substitute of the afternoon saw Anthony Forde replaced by Ryan Williams. A Joe Newell free-kick found David Ball who put the ball over the crossbar followed by a couple of corner for the Millers that came to nothing. On sixty-seven minutes Dale ‘keeper Josh Lillis sent the ball out to Inman who found it too easy to get past the Millers midfield before he put the ball through for Stephen Humphrys who fired it past Rodak into the net to send the travelling four hundred fans wild. Caolan Lavery came on for the Millers for Ball. The visitors were on the ascendency and Semi Ajayi did well to stop Henderson getting a shot away followed by a Camps free-kick being stopped by the wall. At the other end a Mattock free-kick was put out for a corner which found the head of Lavery only for him to see Lillis save before a Richard Wood header went just over the bar. Rochdale brought on Steve Davies for Stephen Humphrys while the Millers replaced Josh Emmanuel with Matty Palmer. Some nice work from Ajayi sent Michael Smith on his way but the flag went up for off-side before Lavery got into good space but couldn’t make that count. Dale brought on Oliver Rathbone for Bradden Inman who was immediately fouled by Will Vaulks with the resulting free-kick coming to nothing. Mr Salisbury suddenly seemed to realise he hadn’t used his cards so when the ball went out for a Millers throw and Dale substitute Sam Hart who was warming up picked it up he booked him for time wasting. That was quickly followed by yellows for Richard Wood of Rotherham and Dale’s Steve Davies. With the game in time added on Henderson perhaps should have doubled the visitors lead but put the ball wide and Joe Newell saw yellow for a foul.
We all know that the run had to come to an end at sometime but . . . . at home against a team at the bottom of the table hurts a bit. Plus the Millers never seemed to get into their stride yesterday,didn’t seem to know where each other was.
Ah well, onwards and upwards to Tuesday nights game against MK Dons.
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