Night To Forget For Covid Hit Millers

Rotherham United 1 v Watford 4
Ladapo (68)                        Sierralata (9)
                                               Sarr (26)
                                               Sema (39)
                                              Gosling (69)

A good performance with some clinical finishing saw Watford get the better of a battered and bruised looking Rotherham team who haven’t trained for nearly two weeks due to Covid-19, this evening at the New York Stadium.

The hosts had a chance in the opening minute with Matt Crooks winning an early corner which was taken short to Ben Wiles who tried to find Crooks in the box but Ken Sema headed the ball to safety. A minute later Dan Barlaser caused in the area with the ball being cleared as far as Richard Wood with the skipper shooting wide from the edge of the box. But it was the Hornets who went ahead on nine minutes when a corner found Philip Zinkernagel who in turn found Francisco Sierralata who headed home. At the other end a cross from Barlaser found the head of Michael Smith but he put the ball high and wide before some good work from Matthew Olosunde sent Wiles on his way but the Rotherham born player was crowded out. On twenty-six minutes an initial save from Millers’ ‘keeper Jamal Blackman stopped a goal from Joao Pedro but the ball only went as far as Ismalia Sarr and the Senegal international rifled the ball home to make it two-nil to Watford. Freddie Ladapo got in a good position for the Millers only for his shot to go wide of the upright before another good save from Blackman saw him put the ball out from a good shot from Nathanial Chalobah. But the visitors were three-up a minute later after a corner found Zinkernagle who crossed into the box for Ken Sema with the Swedish midfielder finding the net through the crowded box. A Barlaser free-kick found Olosunde but his shot was straight into the arms of Watford ‘keeper Daniel Bachman before Blackman was quick to come off his line at the other end to deny Chalobah. The Millers had a shout for a penalty when the ball looked to be handled by Adam Masini in the area before a shot from Shaun MacDonald from just outside the box was blocked.

Watford started the second half well with Richard Wood having to be aware and block a shot from Joao Pedro. Matthew Olosunde won the Millers a free-kick which was deflected for a corner which came to nothing. The next few minutes saw a number of substitutions with  Jeremy Ngakia and Andre Grey replacing Ismaila Sarr and Kiko Femenía for the visitors and the Millers fetching on Wes Harding for Ben Wiles. Just before the hour mark Rotherham got a bit of a soft penalty, referee Jeremy Simpson probably making up for the one he didn’t give in the first half. Up stepped Michael Smith and despite his shot being a powerful one Daniel Bachman was equal to it and saved. A bit of pinball in the box saw the ball fall to Matt Crooks but he couldn’t get hold of it properly before the ref blew for a foul. At the other end Gray put the ball into the path of the onrushing Pedro with Jamal Blackman doing well to get down to his shot. More changes saw Watford bring on Dan Gosling and Carlos Sanchez for  Nathaniel Chalobah and  Philip Zinckernage. A quick break saw some good work between Dan Barlaser and Harding with the ball finding Freddie Ladapo who let fly from distance seeing the ball curve past the helpless Bachman into the net to make it three-one. Could we do it? Well, no, because more or less from the re-start Ken Sema sent the ball to Gray and although Blackman beat the ball away it only went as far as substitute Gosling who made it four-one from close range. Ryan Giles and Kieran Sadlier came on for Matthew Olosunde and Shaun MacDonald. A Barlaser corner found the head of Crooks who perhaps should have done better than head over from close range before Michael Smith and Freddie Ladapo made way for George Hirst and Florian Jozefzoon followed by Isaac Success coming on for the visitors for Will Hughes. Richard Wood did well to get down to block a shot from Gosling before he made it awkward for Gray who shot wide. In time added on Barlaser won the hosts a free-kick which Sadlier curled wide.

All in all a night to forget although, given the circumstances, the players did what they could but were never going to get the better of the Hornets this evening.

Let’s hope we are fitter for our trip to Bristol City on Saturday.