RUFC – Who Would You Start on Wednesday?

Rotherham United twice led on Saturday at Scunthorpe and twice were pulled back. No worries, that game is done and gone and the Millers have potentially ninety minutes to get a day out at Wembley at the end of the month.

But who would be in your starting eleven?

Obviously Marek Rodak would be in goal – well, I’m saying obviously, it’s obvious to me but others might think different. Was he at fault for either goal at Glanford Park?

Josh Emmanuel has gone from strength to strength this season so I’d start with him but I’d have a poser between Joe Mattock, whose only just come back from injury and Ben Purrington who, for me, hadn’t done a lot wrong to be replaced.

I didn’t think Will Vaulks had the best of games at the weekend but he’s more than likely to score a screamer as have another quiet game. Then we come to Michael Ihiekwe who I do like but he did make a couple of mistakes on Saturday but is that enough to drop him? (Don’t forget Warney did drop Semi Ajayi and Shaun Cummings after they’d made errors). Richard Wood has to lead the team out at the New York Stadium, he is a leader on the pitch, yes, he might not be as quick as he once was but that’s why he has youngsters around him to do the ‘leg work’. Semi Ajayi could also be in the mix for Wednesday nights game, he did fine when he came on for Towell for the last twenty minutes.

Jon Taylor scored (what was that goal celebration about, was he imitating a seagull?) and ran around the pitch harrying and scurrying away but he did go off with a dead leg, risk him or not? Richie Towell was also taken off after his peculiar overhead kick with thoughts that he might have damaged his back but, so far, those thoughts seem to have been unfounded. And, of course, Joe Newell came on and his first touch saw him get a goal and he did well off the bench.

For me Matty Palmer was the Man of the Match on Saturday – he’s quiet but they always say the quiet ones are the worst and he got under some of the Scunthorpe players feet a bit, stopped them in their tracks and works hard for the team.

Ryan Williams was voted the Sky Man of the Match. Did do well and might have had a couple of goals himself if the goalposts had been a little wider!

For me, you’ve got to leave Michael Smith up front, whether on his own or with a partner. Once again he was having his shirt pulled and tugged all game but when he did manage to shrug off his markers his football was excellent.

Then there’s David Ball and Caolan Lavery both very good footballers, both can score goals. Start either or both or bring either or both off the bench if we need to put the ball in the net?

All I can end with is I’m glad I’ve not actually got this decision to make.