Doncaster Rovers 0 Rotherham United 5
Miller (8), Wiles (16), Ogbene (72)
Barlaser (pen 76), Lindsay (89)
Rotherham United cemented their place at the top of League One with an emphatic victory over neighbours Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat this evening.
The Millers came flying out of the block and in the opening minutes Ollie Rathbone received a good ball from Ben Wiles and let fly with only the fingertips of Rovers’ debutant ‘keeper Jonathan Mitchell keeping it out of the net. Will Grigg might have scored as he flew into the box but a number of Rovers players surrounded him and got the ball away and it was Grigg again on seven minutes who battled to win a corner. Mikel Miller took the set-piece and it flew straight over the head of Mitchell into the net sending the three thousand two hundred travelling fans wild. Chieo Ogbene ran down the wing and into the box sending a great ball over towards Michael Smith who surely would have scored had Kyle Knoll not done well to intercept. Michael Ihiekwe won a free-kick and with the hosts making a bit of a hash of clearing in stepped Dan Barlaser to send a sideways ball to the advancing Ogbene who then played in Ben Wiles who put the ball into the net to make it two-nil to the visitors. Ogbene again easily outpaced his marker before sending another good ball in for Smith who saw his header blocked and go to safety before Miller and Wiles played a quick one-two inside the area with the latter seeing his shot climb over the crossbar. Rovers first chance came on the half-hour when Matthew Smith sent a cross aimed for Joseph Dodoo but Millers’ ‘keeper Josh Vickers quickly came off his line to clear. Ogbene set off on another run but was stopped in his tracks by Ollie Younger who saw yellow for his trouble before Joe Mattock, making his first league start since mid-October, cleverly got the ball down and brought off a good save from Mitchell. As half-time loomed a Barlaser corner found the head of skipper for the night Michael Ihiekwe who put the ball just wide.
Rovers started the second half with a double substitution seeing Ethan Galbraith and Ben Jackson replace Adam Clayton and Branden Horton. The hosts saw more of the ball at the start of the second half and had a couple of half shots that troubled nobody except their fans behind the goal. Charlie Seaman looked to get to a loose ball before Dan Barlaser moved it away from him aiming a cross at Michael Smith which Ollie Younger put behind for a corner before Wes Harding blocked a cross from Ademipo Odubeko at the other end. Ollie Rathbone did well to stop a ball from Odubeko do any damage followed by a looping cross at the other end from Will Grigg just to high for Michael Smith to head home. A third home change saw Joe Dodoo make way for Reo Griffiths. Mikel Miller did well stop Kyle Knoyle getting a cross-cum-shot away followed by a super run from Rathbone getting past bodies in the box to shoot in front of the away fans but saw the ball go inches past the upright. The Millers first substitution of the night saw Joshua Kayode on for Will Grigg. On the seventy-second minute the visitors went three-up after Michael Smith did well to chest the ball down to Ben Wiles who saw Chieo Ogbene make a run and sent him the ball and the Irish International curled a superb shot into the net from the corner of the box. Two minutes later Ogbene was subbed with Richard Wood taking his place. With fifteen minutes to go JJ won the Millers a penalty going down under a challenge from Younger (Ed Note – even I thought it was a bit harsh) and up stepped Barlaser to smash the ball into the net from the spot-kick to make it four. Jamie Lindsay was brought on for Ben Wiles for the last Millers’ change. Doncaster’s Tommy Rowe brought off a good save from Josh Vickers before Ihiekwe saw an effort blocked at the other end. In the final minute of the game a weak punch out from Mitchell fell to Lindsay who crashed the ball home from a tight angle and through a ruck of bodies to make it five-nil. It might have been six in time added on after JJ had knocked the ball down for Harding the Millers’ defender sent the ball high over the crossbar.
It was unlucky for some this evening with the Millers making it thirteen goals to nil against Doncaster Rovers in all competitions this season – I bet they will be glad to see the back of us! It was a good team performance tonight, a deserved win with some great vocal support from the visiting fans who saw goals aplenty. What more can you ask for on a cold February night?
Attendance – 9,255 (3,255 Millers)
Referee – Scott Oldham
