Pompey Put Three Past Millers

Portsmouth 3 Rotherham 0
Robertson (35)
Harness (59)
Hirst (65)

Rotherham United started with four changes from Saturday with Joe Mattock, Joshua Kayode Jamie Lindsay and Jordi Osei-Tutu coming in for Wes Harding, Freddie Ladapo, Shane Ferguson and Ollie Rathbone who all drop to the bench. Portsmouth made five changes with former Millers Clark Robertson and George Hirst returning to the line-up alongside Louis Thompson, Joe Morrell and Michael Jacobs replacing Tyler Walker, Mahlon Romeo, Shaun Williams, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Aiden O’Brien who were among the substitutes.

It was very much a stop/start first half although it was Rotherham who started the better winning a free-kick in the opening minute which Jamie Lindsay sent into Michael Smith with the forward getting into the box but ran into Sean Raggett who won his side a free-kick of their own. The first yellow of the night went to Clark Robertson after a poor clearance from Raggett fell to Joshua Kayode with Robertson sending him to the floor. A poor challenge from Lindsay on Connor Ogilvie saw the Scotsman booked. Some nice work between Chieo Ogbene and Lindsay saw the ball go out for a throw-in which was eventually sent in towards Kayode in the box but the Millers forward lost his footing. Dan Barlaser was the next player to see yellow after Ronan Curtis went over with the Michael Jacobs taking the resulting free-kick which came straight back to him before Richard Wood cleared. Pompey had a good chance on twenty minutes with Curtis sending a lovely ball to Marcus Harness who brought off a good save from Viktor Johansson in Rotherham’s goal. This was followed by an equally good chance for the visitors when a super ball from Lindsay into the area found the head of Ben Wiles who saw the ball come back off Raggett but then bounced off Wiles for a goal kick. Joe Mattock had to be on his toes to stop Jacobs getting by him into the box which was followed by Hayden Carter letting fly from outside the box, the ball clearing the crossbar. On thirty-five minutes the Millers conceded their first away goal in a first half of the season when Wood knocked over Hirst giving the hosts a free-kick in a good areal Jacobs sent a good ball in and Robertson got the better of Michael Ihiekwe and jumped to head into the net. The Millers had a chance to equalise five minutes later after some good work from Osei-Tutu saw him get the ball across to Kayode who saw his shot go just wide. In the final minute of the half Hirst got into a good position before Mattock and Wood put him off his shot that went wide. In time added Smith put the ball across the park finding Ogbene who jigged his way into a shooting position letting fly and hitting the crossbar. As Ogbene looked to make headway down the wing Jacobs scythed him down – and not for the first time – seeing yellow with Barlaser’s free-kick going straight into the arms of Gavin Bazuna again.

The second half started with Ollie Rathbone taking over from Ben Wiles who had had an injury in the first half. Michael Smith gave the ball away with Chieo Ogbene winning it back going forward sending the ball for Smith on the edge of the area but a Pompey defender was there first. The ball went up the other end ending with Viktor Johansson who punted the ball forward finding Smith who saw his shot go off Clark Robertson for a corner which was put in by Dan Barlaser. The Pompey defence got the ball away but only as far as Jamie Lindsay who sent it back into the middle of the box, the move ending when Richard Wood was flagged offside. At the other end some good work between Michael Jacobs and George Hirst saw the latter shoot over. Osei-Tutu won a free-kick which Barlaser took finding the head of Joe Mattock who put the ball wide. Ogbene was fouled again and again nothing was given before Mattock saw yellow for a foul. A second change for Rotherham saw Joshua Kayode make way for Freddie Ladapo. Some lovely work from Lindsay saw him work his way into the box but his shot went straight to Gavin Bazuna and from the resulting goal kick Pompey doubled their lead after Hirst held up the ball before sending it to Marcus Harness who was in acres of space and made it two-nil. A cross from Michael Ihiekwe saw Wood climb highest only for his header to hit the crossbar before going over. Wood then did well down the other end getting the better of Hirst to send the ball out for a corner which came out to Hayden Carter who unleashed a shot only to see Johansson tip the ball over. From the resulting corner Johansson came out into a melee of players but didn’t get there with the ball falling to a lone Hirst who got a deserved goal making it three-nil to the hosts. The Millers won a free-kick in a good position which Barlaser took finding Lindsay on the edge of the box, his shot going way over. Minutes later Lindsay found himself in space in the area when an Ogbene cross came in but he slipped before a good challenge from Carter stopped Mattock from getting into a good position. Two changes for Porstmouth saw Marcus Harness make way for Mahlon Romeo and Aiden O’Brien on for Michael Jacobs. With ten minutes to go Osei-Tutu and Bazuna went for the same ball with the Rotherham man coming off worse and after treatment limped off with Mickel Miller replacing him. A Barlaser corner was put behind by Bazuna with Miller taking the corner. It came back off Hirst to Miller whose next ball went across goal with nobody there to put it in. A good run from Miller saw him win a free-kick which fell to Smith who lost the ball after having had his arms held behind his back. Well into the seven added on minutes Barlaser did well to stop Hirst getting a clean shot away before another free-kick for the visitors taken by Miller went for a corner, the corner going, again, into the waiting arms of Bazuna.

I actually thought we played better than we had on Saturday but you can’t deny George Hirst played probably his best game for Portsmouth – maybe ever – with Pompey deserving the win although perhaps three-nil was hard on the Millers.

Attendance – 14,154 with 331 of those from Rotherham

Referee – David Rock