Opening Day Draw For Millers

Rotherham United 1 Swansea City 1
Ogbene (16)                     Darling (38)


Rotherham United kicked off their season in the Championship with a one-all draw at home to Swansea City.

It was the visitors who started brighter when Matthew Sorinola bent a shot towards goal but Wes Harding was there to block. One of the Millers debutants Grant Hall did well after Joel Latibeaudiere sent a good ball in for Michael Obafemi but Hall was there to clear and minutes later a ball looking for Obafemi was well read by Shange Ferguson who again cleared. The Millers first real foray up front saw Harding get the better of Kyle Naughton sending the ball to another debutant Conor Washington who saw his shot deflected out of play. Joel Piroe got himself into a shooting position at the other end but the Millers defence got the ball away before the same Swans player put the ball over the crossbar. And it was really against run of play on sixteen minutes that the hosts opened the scoring. A well won throw-in from Harding saw him send the ball into the box saw Naughton heading it towards his own goal which Chieo Ogbene took advantage of and nodded the ball over visiting ‘keeper Andrew Fisher and into the net sending the majority of the ten and a half thousand fans off their seats cheering. Minutes later Washington had a shot which was deflected into the grateful arms of Fisher before a Harding ball found Ogbene with his back to goal and acrobatically hit it with Fisher pleased to see it land in his arms. At the other end Ferguson did well to stop a cross from Jamie Paterson find Obafemi followed some minutes later by a pass-come-shot from Sorinola heading towards goal with Viktor Johansson in the Rotherham goal pushing it over the crossbar. But he could do nothing two minutes later after Matt Grimes fed Harry Darling, who had infuriated the Millers fans in his antics of falling over at the slightest touch, who sent a cracking shot into the heart of the goal for the equaliser. It could have been worse a few minutes later when Paterson brought off a good save from Johansson followed by a Paterson free-kick which found Nathan Wood who somehow put his header over when it looked easier to score.

Rotherham came out the better at the start of the second half and when a long pass from Ben Wiles was chested down by Chieo Ogbene who saw his effort pushed round the post by a diving Andrew Fisher. Some nice football from the visitors saw a Jay Fulton pass find Jamie Paterson who in turn sent the ball towards Michael Obafemi stood on the line but Ben Wiles got there first to clear. At the other end a fingertip save from Fisher stopped Ogbene get his and the Millers second of the afternoon before Jamie Lindsay got the better of Matthew Sorinola the wing-back on loan from Belgium side Union SG pulled the Rotherham player back and saw the first yellow of the afternoon. Cameron Humphreys had to be on his toes to block a shot from Grimes. The visitors should have taken the lead just after the hour mark when nice work from Joel Piroe saw him send a super ball into the box for Obafemi but he appeared to trip over his own feet and Viktor Johansson was there to pounce on the ball. Some super work from the Millers defence saw first Richard Wood block a shot from Piroe which found its way to Paterson whose shot was tipped over the bar by Johansson. Sixty-six minutes in saw three changes for the hosts with Grant Hall, Conor Washington and Shane Ferguson make way for new boys Peter Kioso and Cohen Bramall with the biggest cheer being when Georgie Kelly came on. And it was Kelly who almost made an impact when he brought off a great save from Fisher just a couple of minutes after coming on. Two changes for the visitors saw Oliver NtCham and former Miller Ryan Manning on for Jamie Paterson and Matthew Sorinola. After Nathan Wood appeared to foul Jamie Lindsay in the box the Scotsman appealed for a penalty with referee Matthew Donohue, not for the first time this afternoon, giving a free-kick to the opposition. Fulton sent a lovely ball through for Piroe who saw his effort go inches wide before Ogbene and Dan Barlaser worked well together to find Bramall who sent his shot straight into the hands of Fisher. After hacking down Ben Wiles Piroe was shown a yellow card which was swiftly followed by the same for his manager Russell Martin who had complained once too often. Johansson did well to get the ball before Ryan Manning after a cross from Grimes which saw him send the ball out to Bramall who sent Ogbene on his way with the Irishman finding Barlaser who saw his shot tipped over the bar by Fisher. Piroe found Manning in space but Kioso took the ball away from him before he had time to shoot. An ill-timed challenge on Joel Latibeaudiere saw Bramall get his first yellow in a Millers shirt before a cross from Grimes saw Johansson running out to claim the ball before it fell to Ntcham in a good position to shoot.

A good opener for the Millers this afternoon with the Millers fans getting a chance to see five of the new signings. I thought both ‘keepers brought off some good saves, while Swansea played some nice football with Rotherham equal to anything they threw at us.

Attendance – 10,454 (1,492 Swans)

Referee – Matthew Donohue