Saints Too Good For Millers

Rotherham United 0 Southampton 2
                                     Bednarek (4), Armstrong (38)

Two first half goals was enough to see Rotherham United nothing at home against much fancied for promotion Southampton this afternoon.

The Millers did themselves no favours conceding on four minutes after a second corner for the Saints was sent into the box by Stuart Armstrong and despite having at least two opportunities to clear the ball found its way to Jan Bednarek who headed home to put the visitors in front. Southampton wanted more and for the next ten minutes the host couldn’t get near them with Lee Peltier twice having to make tackles to stop Southampton getting in on goal. It was fourteen minutes before the Millers had a chance when some good football from Peter Kioso saw him get past his marker to cross into the box finding Jordan Hugill who kicked the ball towards goal but saw it rise inches above the crossbar. At the other end the Saints came close when the nippy Ryan Fraser found himself with room to shoot from distance only to see his shot thump the woodwork and go out to safety. Kioso won the ball and turned his marker playing a one-two with Hugill before sending the ball into the box for Cafu who put his shot wide. Kyle Walkers-Peter won a corner for the visitors which former Miller Ryan Manning sent in with Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson climbing highest to collect but fell awkwardly and had to have treatment before being able to continue. Five minutes later Johansson was there again after Che Adams passed to Stuart Armstrong with the Millers’ Number One spreading himself to keep the ball out. But he couldn’t do anything six minutes later when Hakeem Odoffin thought he’d got the better of Fraser but the Newcastle United loanee sent a wonderful back heel for Adam Armstrong who saw his shot sneak into the bottom corner. Adam Armstrong sent a lovely ball for Will Smallbone with five minutes of the half left but Johansson brought off a great save to push the ball round the upright the resulting corner coming to nothing. As the board went up for a further four minutes a header from Kisoso saw Seb Revan collect the ball and fly into the box bringing of a great save from Saints’ ‘keeper Gavin Bazunu. With the last action of the half a corner for the Millers which Sam Clucas sent in seeing Bazunu thump the ball away to safety.

No changes for either side at half-time with the first five minutes or so being stop start with fouls and free-kicks. A lovely cross from Peter Kioso was cleared by the Southampton defence but only as far as Sam Clucas who saw his shot go inches past the post. A foul on Jordan Hugill brought a yellow card for Flynn Downes with the resulting free-kick being sent down the pitch by Viktor Johansson before being cleared by a Saints defender as far as Cafu who fires over when he really should have done better. A minute later some lovely work from Kioso saw him win the ball off Adam Armstrong and send the ball for Seb Revan who saw his shot turned behind. Referee Gill showed a yellow card to Stuart Armstrong for a foul on Jamie Lindsay although his constant arguing with Mr Gill probably didn’t help him. The first changes of the game were for the Millers with Sam Nombe and Ollie Rathbone coming on for Jordan Hugill and Jamie Lindsay. Flynn Downes had a shot blocked before Johansson did well to save a shot from Adam Armstrong. Revan won a corner which Cafu sent into the box causing a bit of chaos before Southampton were able to get it away. Kioso set Rathbone off on a run with the midfielder putting through a ball for Nombe but Gavin Bazunu got there first. Changes for the visitors saw Ryan Fraser and Flynn Downes make way for David Brooks and Joe Rothwell and minutes later  Sekou Mara replaces Che Adams. And it Mara nearly scored from his first touch after Will Smallbone found him with a cross just outside the box with the French striker seeing his shot well saved by Johansson. The Millers brought on new loanee Femi Seriki and Arvin Appiah for Seb Revan and Peter Kioso. Kyle Walker-Peters won the ball back sending it to Brooks who saw his shot go just over the left corner of the goal. The Millers last change saw Cafu make way for Tom Eaves with Southampton replacing Stuart Armstrong with Shea Charles. As the last minute of the four extra came Appiah sent the ball towards goal with a Saints defender getting it away but only as far as Rathbone who forced Bazunu into a save.

We were slow in the first half and second to every ball but we got better as the game went on. Saying that Southampton were superior in every position on the pitch this afternoon.

Onto next Saturday now when it’s a simple game against Leeds United at Elland Road.


Attendance – 11,179 with 2,413 Saints making the trek up

Referee – S Gill