Ten Men Millers Lose Out In Last Minutes

Plymouth Argyle 3 Rotherham United 2
Azaz (45+5 pen)           Lindsay (16)
Azaz (52)                       Eaves (77)
Whittaker (90+6)


Ten men Rotherham United lost at the death at Home Park yesterday in a game that saw five goals, one a penalty, and a sending off.

The first ten minutes or so of the game was a little scrappy with free-kicks being given to both sides although the Millers came close when Cohen Bramall and Sam Nombe combined well the latter seeing his strike go across the face of goal to safety. Bramall was involved in the next Rotherham movement up front when he sent the ball back for Dexter Lembikisa whose shot looked destined for the net until an excellent block from Lewis Gibson sent the ball away from goal. Argyle then got down the pitch well with Morgan Whittaker sending a lovely ball in which was just too short for Finn Azaz. On sixteen minutes the Millers went forward with Nombe taking advantage of a defensive mix-up teeing up Jamie Lindsay to score his first goal of the season and put Rotherham in front. At the other end Ryan Hardie found himself with the ball in space but his shot didn’t bother Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson. Daniel Ayala, back in the starting eleven after being suspended for the last game, was the first to see yellow for a foul on Azaz with Azaz taking the resulting free-kick sending the ball to Whittaker whose shot from just outside the box hit the post before rebounding to safety. A cross from Lembikisa at the other end was headed over by Jordan Hugill before Johansson got down to a shot from the lively Azaz. A corner from Argyle was taken by Whittaker who found Hardie his header being blocked which was the forwards last action of the game after going down injured and being replaced by Mustapha Bundu who himself was tackled by Hakeem Odoffin a minute later, the Rotherham player getting the second yellow card of the game, and after a lot of time being treated on the pitch had to be replaced by Ben Waine. Bali Mumba had a shot which missed as the board went up for an extra thirteen minutes. A corner for the hosts saw Johansson push the ball over the crossbar for another corner which saw Lewis Gibson go down under pressure from Lee Peltier who saw yellow as the referee Gavin Ward pointed to the spot. Peltier looked injured in the challenge and the Millers brought on Seb Revan in his place. Azaz took the penalty which had Johansson beaten. The Millers tried to get straight back in the lead with Bramall getting the better of his marker as he worked his way up the pitch before sending a ball into the box which no Millers player could get on the end of. A finger tip save by Johansson from Whittaker followed by an Azaz shot that hit the post saw the first half end one-all.

Plymouth were the quicker out of the blocks for the second half with a Finn Azaz cross into the box just right for Joe Edwards to head but he saw the ball go over the crossbar. Jamie Lindsay was the next Rotherham player to pick up a yellow card for a foul on Jordon Houghton. Nice work from Luke Cundle on fifty-two minutes saw him find Azaz whose sliding finish into the bottom corner put the hosts in front for the first time in the game. Things then got worse for the visitors when Daniel Ayala handled the ball, somewhat needlessly you’d have to say, and got his second yellow of the game followed by his marching orders for the second time in two games. The Millers were winning many balls in midfield and were fighting to attack with Sean Morrison coming on to shore up the back line with Jordan Hugill going the other way. Christ Tiehi won a free-kick which then won the visitors a corner which came to nothing before more changes saw Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Callum Wright on for Argyle for Joe Edwards and Luke Cundle with the Millers replacing Jamie Lindsay and Sam Nombe with Grant Hall and Tom Eaves. A corner for Rotherham saw Ollie Rathbone get it over to Sean Morrison whose header was blocked but a minute later a Morrison headed pass found Eaves who slotted the ball into the net from close range for his first league goal for the Millers – the travelling faithful giving him a round of ‘Eeeeeevvvees’ for getting the equaliser. At the other end Johansson saved a shot from Azaz then Bali Mumba before an Azaz cross found Lewis Gibson who shot wide. More substitutions saw Argyle put Adam Randell and Brendon Galloway on for former Miller Mickel Miller and Bali Mumba while Georgie Kelly came on for the Millers for Hakeem Odoffin. A couple of corners for the hosts came to nothing before Bramall sent Kelly on his way the late substitute seeing his shot blocked. As the board went up for seven further minutes the Millers had a couple of corners with Morrison getting a header away which was saved by Plymouth ‘keeper Conor Hazard. Rathbone was yellow carded for – well I’m not really sure – before Johansson did well to get to a shot from Randall with the Millers’ ‘keeper getting a yellow a few minutes later for time wasting. But with six minutes of time added on Azaz, who had been in the thick of things for the hosts all afternoon, flicked a lovely ball on for Whittaker who hammered the ball home to make it three-two to Plymouth. The Millers tried to get a point with a Bramall cross perfect for Morrison to head but Hazard was equal to it before a Rathbone free-kick came to nothing.

I think before the game began most Millers fans wouldn’t have expected to get anything so probably we shouldn’t be disappointed. But to lead away from home, give away a penalty go down to ten men, get back from two-one down we have to be disappointed.

Leam Richardson now has a full week to work with the team, get to know the players better before we travel to take on top of the table Leicester City.

Attendance –  16,025 of which 345 were Millers

Referee – Gavin Ward