Rotherham United came into September in twelfth place in the Championship with nine points and a goal difference of plus three.
The start of the month saw Paul Warne add to the squad by signing goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey on a years deal. Born in Scotland the now twenty year old came through the ranks with Motherwell staying ten years before moving to England with Stoke City in October 2020. He played regularly in the Potters’ U23 side but was one of ten players Stoke released at the end of last season. After a successful trial with Rotherham he became our third ‘keeper earlier this month.
We also found out that our games at home to Huddersfield on 15th October and away at Stoke City three days later have been picked for TV.
Our first match of the month saw Watford, who had come down from the Premier League at the end of last season, at the New York Stadium. After a minutes applause to pay tribute to former Miller Roy Silman who had sadly passed away the game started well for the hosts with Richard Wood scoring his fourth goal of the season in just two minutes. Vakoun Bayo equalised for the Hornets on the thirty-third minute and despite chances at both ends the game ended one-all.
Paul Warne thought his team were ‘excellent’ for the first thirty minutes of the game although had ‘tired legs’ towards the end.
Football was then put on hold in respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Skipper Richard Wood was nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Player for August missing out to Hull City striker Oscar Estupinan.
Our next game was the Wednesday clash with Blackpool again at the New York Stadium. A headed goal from Chieo Ogbene saw the Millers take a thirty-fourth minute lead with further second-half late goals from Wes Harding and substitute Georgie Kelly to see Rotherham come away three points and a clean sheet.
Our last game for September, which was curtailed for an International break, saw us travel to Middlesbrough for a strange for Saturday 7.45pm kick-off in front of the TV camera’s. Neither team had much to talk about with the game ending goalless – but a point away from home can never be sniffed at.
The Millers had four players called up for International duty Chieo Ogbene for the Republic of Ireland squad, Joshua Kayode for the Republic of Ireland U21’s, Shane Ferguson for Scotland and Brooke Norton-Cuffy for the England U20 squad.
Some unwanted interest – for the Rotherham fans – came from Huddersfield Town who sacked former Miller Danny Schofield as Head Coach and after Plymouth’s Steven Schumacher appeared to have turned them down were coming looking at Paul Warne.
And then . . . .
Paul Warne called it a day with Rotherham United and took three of the backroom staff with him to Derby County, who are in a lower league and have had trouble in the not too distant past paying wages. On the other hand at least he hasn’t gone to a team in our division which I’m happy about. We can’t do any other than thank Warney for what he’s done in his time as player, fitness coach, caretaker manager and Boss of the Millers.
Now we move on and are on the look out for someone to fill his place. The names so far being bandied about on social media are highly diverse some expecting Neil Warnock to take up the challenge until the end of the season, Gus Poyet is the latest I’ve seen along with Sam Allardyce with someone even suggesting Jungle favourite Harry Redknapp. Rob Scott, who is our Head of Player Recruitment, says he is expecting the club to have a short-list by today.
Vital Rotherham’s September Man of the Month was Ollie Rathbone and the top scorer as we leave the second month of the season is Chieo Ogbene with five goals.
We leave September four places better off than we started it with fourteen points and a game in hand of all those above us.
