West Yorkshire Win Derby Game

Leeds United 3 Rotherham United 0
Bamford (10)
Summerville (52, 60 (pen))

Rotherham United failed to worry Leeds United this afternoon at Elland Road even though the hosts went in at half-time on the back of a goal that probably shouldn’t have stood.

An early corner for the Millers which Sam Clucas took sending it into the box looking for Hakeem Odoffin whose shot was blocked before it came back out to Clucas who sent it back in but Illan Meslier came out to punch away with Leeds clearing by going forward. A cross on five minutes from Georginio Rutter found Patrick Bamford whose shot went straight into the arms of Viktor Johansson in the Rotherham goal. After being found by Cafu good speed from Peter Kioso saw him get down the pitch and put the ball in towards Jordan Hugill but it went behind him and was cleared. At the other end a good tackle from Lee Peltier stopped Patrick Bamford get into a good scoring position. On ten minutes Joe Roden played the ball out to Glen Kamara who sent a cross in which came to Bamford, who looked to everyone except the officials that he elbowed the ball into the net to put the hosts in front – and didn’t endear himself to the six hundred Millers fans there with grinning at them as he past. A poor challenge on Jamie Lindsay was ignored and only some good defending from Sean Morrison stopped Leeds getting a shot at goal. A challenge on Roden brought a yellow card for Hugill who caught the Spurs loanees foot. A one-two between Crysencio Summerville and Bamford saw the former fetch off a great save from Johansson before Junior Firpo won the ball back off Odoffin sending it back to Summerville who saw his shot fly over the crossbar. Rutter did well to bring a high cross down but his shot was easy for Johansson to gather and minutes later the Millers’ ‘keeper did well to get to a ball forward before Summerville could pounce. More defending for the visitors saw Rutter originally crowded out by black shirts but the French forward twisted and turned before getting the better of Morrison but not of Johansson. At the other end Morrison sent a good ball to Odoffin who flicked it towards Clucas but a Leeds defender got there first before Hugill sent a lovely ball for Clucas who then had the ball taken off his toes. At the other end a cross from Leeds’ skipper Ethan Ampadu saw some great defending from Morrison stop Bamford in his tracks. Leeds had a shout for a penalty after Seb Revan’s tackle on Wilfried Gnonto but a goal-kick was given much to the home fans’ disgust. Archie Gray brought off another good save from Johansson before Illia Gruev fed Gnonto who went forward before shooting and seeing Johansson put the ball past the post at full stretch. As the board went up for an extra two minutes Clucas tried to get the ball between home defenders to Hugill but the Millers striker was flagged offside.

The Millers started the second half the same as the first with a corner which Hakeem Odoffin took but hit the first man and came to nothing. Crysencio Summerville got to a ball before Sean Morrison who followed the Leeds player and put the ball out for a corner which Summerville took and Sam Clucas head away. Peter Kioso flew forward finding Cafu who went forward but having to turn the ball back to Odoffin who sent the ball into the box only to see it deflected into Illan Meslier’s path for him to clear. The lively Summerville sent a ball through for Patrick Bamford who saw his shot deflected onto the crossbar by Odoffin before coming out to Wilfried Gnonto who skied the ball from some five yards out. On fifty-two minutes Rotherham gave the ball away in the Leeds half and it was pounced on by Georginio Rutter who saw Summerville flying forward the Dutch player collecting the ball and putting it over Johansson as he came out making it two-nil to the hosts. Seven minutes later Kioso bundled Summerville over in the penalty area with the Leeds playing getting up to take the spot-kick and make it three-nil. Changes for both sides saw Tom Eaves, Sam Nombe and Andy Rinomhota on for Cafu, Jamie Lindsay and Jordan Hugill for the Millers with Leeds making two changes seeing Crysencio Summerville and Junior Firpo making way for Sam Byram and Joel Piroe. Rinomhota’s first action of the game saw him bring down Rutter which was followed by a yellow card for fellow sub Nombe for dragging back Gnonto. More changes for Leeds saw Connor Roberts come on for Illia Gruev and Mateo Joseph replaces Patrick Bamford. A loose ball was contested between Byram for Leeds and Kioso for Rotherham the Millers man winning a foul. Cameron Humphreys was the next change for the visitors with Sean Morrison going the other way. A corner for the Millers saw the ball come out to Christ Tiehi who leaned backwards and wellied the ball way over the crossbar into the stands. Another change for the hosts saw Charlie Cresswell take over from Glen Kamara. A cross from Roberts found the head of Rutter with Johansson saving. A last change for Rotherham saw Christ Tiehi make way for Ollie Rathbone. A Clucas corner found Hakeem Odoffin’s head which brought off a first save from Meslier. Some good football from Sam Clucas saw him twist and turn the Leeds defence before bringing off another save of the game from Meslier. Rutter won a free-kick which saw it find him via Gnoto and drag his shot well wide. At the other end a shot from Clucas appeared to hit Eaves on it’s way towards goal before being saved by Meslier.

We spoke about the ‘elbowed’ goal but, to be honest, the Millers never really looked like scoring until the final few minutes of the game with Leeds getting an easy three points in the West Yorkshire rain this afternoon.

Attendance – 35, 261 with 611 Millers

Referee – Andy Madley