Match Reports

Two-Nil Loss For Millers

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Rotherham United 0 Manchester United U21’s 2
                                           Laird (69)
                                          Ramazani (73)

Rotherham United’s first cup competition, the Leasing.com Trophy, of the season ended in a two-nil home defeat against a young Manchester United side.

Paul Warne made a number of changes from the starting eleven which included a first start for Jamie Lindsay since arriving from Ross County late last month plus starts for academy players Akeem Hinds and Jake Cooper.

The Millers were the quickest out of the blocks and an early Dan Barlaser corner found the head of Carlton Morris but didn’t worry Matej Kovar in the visitors goal. Matt Olosunde and Jamie Lindsay linked up well a couple of times with Akeem Hinds was also sent in a couple of dangerous crosses. At the other end Lewis Price did very well to keep out a shot from the impressive Tahith Chong with Kovar denying Freddie Ladapo at the other end before a Barlaser corner caused problems for the visiting defenders with Jamie Lindsay had two good efforts blocked. A superb Angel Gomes free-kick went inches past the upright before the Millers had the best chance of the half when Lindsay got the ball to Ladapo only for his shot to be well blocked by Kovar. The first yellow of the night went to Barlaser after a tug on Gomes followed by another one for Ethan Laird for a poor challenge on Jake Cooper. Some nice work between Cooper and Ladapo saw the latter sent Lindsay on his way but his looping shot went over the crossbar before Ladapo had a shot blocked. In time added on Gomes got the better of Richard Wood and sent the ball out to D’Mani Mellor who made a bit of a hash of his shot which went well wide.

Rotherham started the second half with Matt Crooks on for Dan Barlaser. In the opening minutes of the second half Matt Olosunde got by his marker sending the ball in for Akeem Hinds but Matej Kovar was equal to the header. The visitors got on the front foot and Tahith Chong saw a chance go begging before Di’Shon Bernard put the ball over from close range with Dylan Levitt’s shot from distance causing no problems to the Millers defence. Michael Smith replaced Freddie Lapado for the hosts and some lovely work from Olosunde found Jamie Proctor who in turn set Carlton Morris up with a chance which looked like it was heading for the back of the net before Kovar managed to put it round the post. More good work from Gomes saw him thread the ball through for D’Mani Mellor but his shot didn’t bother Rotherham ‘keeper Lewis Price. Some nice football from Olosunde saw him make space to get the ball to Smith whose header was down the throat of the visiting ‘keeper before Price did well to deny Largie Ramazani. Shaun MacDonald came on for Rotherham in place of Jamie Lindsay. The young visitors had upped their game and on sixty-nine minutes opened the scoring when Laird took charge of an awkward ball and saw his angled shot go past a diving Price and into the back of the net in front of the visiting four hundred and forty. And less than five minutes later they doubled their score after Ramazani got hold of a long ball and getting the better of the Millers defence gave Price no chance firing home from the edge of the area. At the other end some good work from Ben Wiles saw the ball fall to Smith who sent it flying across goal where the Manchester United defenders scrambled it away. At the other end a fantastic strike from Levitt saw the ball smash against the bottom of the post and out to safety with Price keeping it at two-nil saving from Tahith Chong in the final minutes of the game.

It was a good first-half performance from the Millers but some of our balls into the box left a lot to be desired, many going too close to the ‘keeper others into space where there wasn’t a red shirt. On the other hand it gave minutes to the younger Millers in the side.

Difficult picking a Man of the Match if I’m honest. I thought the young lads, Hinds and Cooper did well and Jamie Lindsay was here and there though there wasn’t a lot in his end product. Olosunde had a good second half but, like the sponsors I think my Man of the Match will go to Ben Wiles who hardly put a foot wrong.

RefereeG Salisbury
Attendance- 3,105 (435 Manchester United fans)

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2 comments

  • Stuart webster says:

    So glad i gave this a miss! 2hour drive from my home to watch this was never going to happen, predict back to back wins on Saturday, millers 3 Lincoln 0

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