Middlesbrough 0 Rotherham United 0
Rotherham United got another point on their travels last night keeping a clean sheet into the bargain.
The only change for Paul Warne’s men after their home win in mid-week was Cameron Humphrey’s starting in place of the ineligible Grant Hall who couldn’t play against his parent club.
There were few chances in the opening thirty minutes Richard Wood on hand to stop former Miller Ryan Giles getting into a shooting position while Dan Barlaser and Humphreys between them stopping Duncan Watmore doing the same. At the other end Chieo Ogbene proved too much for ex-Millers favourite Matt Crooks winning a free-kick which came to nothing. A fall in the Rotherham box by Wood inadvertantly send the ball to the feet of Watmore on fifteen minutes but he fired the ball well over. Ogbene then found the ball at his feet setting up Conor Washington at the other end but a ‘Boro defender was there first. Some good work from Watmore saw him work his way into the box passing the ball to Isaiah Jones who shot inches past the upright. Just after the half-hour mark the Viktor Johansson made the first save of the game after Anfernee Dijksteel won a free-kick off Washington just yards outside the box. Riley McGree’s short pass to Giles saw the midfielder swing the ball in bringing a good save from the Millers’ ‘keeper low down the ball going out to another ‘Boro player before the whistle went for off-side. Rotherham then got a free-kick which saw Baralser slide the ball for Washington who sent the ball towards goal with Jones putting it behind before Wood could add to his season’s tally with a tap in. The Millers defence worked well together to frustrate the hosts and stop them getting into the box before Wes Harding ushered Jones into putting the ball behind for a goal-kick. In the last five minutes of the half a cross into the box for ‘Boro found McGree whose header went behind. Jonny Howson couldn’t cope with Ogbene and saw the first yellow of the game for pulling him back. A good ball from Bramall found Rathbone who sent a hopeful ball in aided by a header from a ‘Boro defender with ‘keeper Zack Steffen punching high lucky to find a red shirt. As the board went up for two extra minutes the Millers splayed the ball around before a ball across the park from Harding found Norton-Cuffy who kept it in and twisted and turned his way into the box and tried to send the ball in for a white shirt with a home defender getting the ball away. A coming together between Rodrigo Muniz and Humphreys saw the Millers player yellow carded with the resulting free-kick finding its way up field and onto the edge of the box for Muniz who saw his shot deflected behind for a corner which found Crooks who put the ball wide.
Middlesbrough had the first chances of the second half Duncan Watmore seeing an effort saved by Viktor Johansson followed a couple of minutes later by the Millers’ ‘keeper again getting down well to another Watmore shot, after he got the better of the Rotherham defence, the ball hitting post going along the line and out for a corner. Definitely a ‘phew’ moment for the watching Millers’ fans. Brooke Norton-Cuffy did well to stop Ryan Giles sending the ball into the area and winning a free-kick too with the set-piece finding Ben Wiles on the edge of the area Matthew Clarke doing well to block the shot. The hosts were having the better of the ball with the Millers stoutly defending with the visitors making the first change just before the hour mark Scott High coming on for Conor Washington. A long free-kick for Rotherham went straight out the resulting goal-kick coming up field and eventually into the box for Rodrigo Muniz who went down under a challenge from Millers’ skipper Richard Wood asking for a penalty, referee Tim Robinson pointing for a goal-kick. ‘Boro were definitely asking questions a cross into the box saw Ollie Rathbone there to clear before the dangerous Ryan Giles got another cross in which Wood got on the end of before the Millers skipper had to be alert to stop Watmore having a clear shot at goal. Rotherham finally got the ball away from their goal and Wes Harding won the ball back in midfield going forward passing the ball to Cohen Bramall who put it in the area finding Ben Wiles who chested it down the ball then running away from him. Norton-Cuffy was doing well at both ends – and in the middle – of the field before a short pass to High saw the Scot send the ball forward which the Arsenal loanee chased making the ‘keeper hurriedly kick the ball up field. A poor touch from Isaiah Jones saw Harding get the ball before sending it across the pitch to Rathbone who in turn found High before it fell to Norton-Cuffy his high cross only finding Steffen. Some nice work in the middle of the park from the Millers saw Rathbone play Bramall in down the wing his cross being put out for a corner. On seventy minutes the crowd at the Riverside stood as one to clap for the Queen to remember her seventy years on the throne. Three changes for ‘Boro saw Duncan Watmore, Matt Clarke and Riley McGree make way for Marcus Forss, Marc Bola and Alex Mowatt while Jamie Lindsay came on for the Millers, Ollie Rathbone going the other way. Bramall saw yellow for a foul on Jones on the edge of the area with the Millers making substitutions Dan Barlaser, Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Cohen Bramall making way for Jamie McCart, Georgie Kelly and Tolaji Bola. The free-kick was eventually taken with Giles sending it in before getting it back and shooting well over the crossbar. Free-kicks for both sides came to nothing before Harding did well to get to a ball before the lively Giles could send a cross into the box sending it out for a corner which was initially headed away by McCart before it came back out to Matt Crooks with both him and Johansson going for the ball, Crooks coming off the worse but after treatment carried on. In time added on a late corner for the hosts which the Millers defended before it went back in towards Crooks but the offside flag went up leaving the game goalless.
This was very much a defensive game for Rotherham and one they did well managing to ‘keep the hosts down to a handful of shots on target. More worrying I suppose is that the Millers didn’t make Zack Steffen make one save. But, you can never complain about a point away from home and a clean sheet.
Attendance – 22,960
Referee – Tim Robinson
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