Blogs
Number 3 PSF Sheffield Wednesday 1 ( Palmer) Villareal 3 ( Moreno, Funes Mori, Ekambe ) 28/7/18 Att; 10683
PSF Rotherham United 2 (Palmer, Smith) Cardiff City 1 (Murphy) Att 2455
Number 1 Harrogate Town 7 ( Knowles (2), Williams (2), Emmett (2), Muldoon Bradford City 2 (Clare (2)) Att 1082
Number 45 SkyBet League 1 Play Off Final Rotherham United 2 Shrewsbury Town 1 27/5/2018
The Millers were on the front foot from the kick off & had the first sight of goal when forward David Ball slid a dangerous ball across the face of goal with no Millers players managing to get a decisive touch. Rotherham continued to press & on 8 minutes won a penalty awarded when the referee spotted Shrews defender Omar Beckles manhandling the Millers player Richard Wood inside the area. Ball took the spot kick but was denied by a magnificent save from Shrews loanee keeper Dean Henderson. Undeterred Rotherham continued to attack but were met with stubborn resistance from the Shrews back four but the Shrews almost went in front on the half hour. A rare Shrews attack saw midfielder Jon Nolan crossed for striker Carlton Morris who placed his header just wide. From the next attack however Rotherham took the lead when a Joe Newell corner was powerfully headed home by Wood. Richie Towell was only just over the bar with a 30 yarder as the Millers ended the half well on top.
Half Time MILLERS 1 SHREWS 0
The Shrews needed to improve to keep in the match & they pushed forward in the early minutes of the second period with Morris crossing dangerously with none of his team mates managing to reach the ball before they drew level on 58 minutes with a slick free kick routine. Shaun Whalley knocked a short free kick to Mat Sadler in space & he found winger Alex Rodman who forced the ball home from close range. The blisteringly hot weather was taking it's toll on the players now so we witnessed a raft of substitutions as both managers were looking for fresh legs to inject some pace to proceedings. The introduction of the Millers midfielder Ryan Williams certainly helped them pick up the pace of the game & his ball picked out fellow sub forward Caolan Lavery who dissapointingly shot wide when clear on goal. Newells shot was saved before the last action in the 90 minutes saw Williams denied when his goalbound shot was again brilliantly saved by Henderson.
FT MILLERS 1 SHREWS 1
Extra time started with the Millers pouring forward in search of the goal that would avoid the lottery of a penalty shootout to decide the game. Following a period of Millers pressure, Towell dragged a long range shot harmlessly wide of the target before Sadler was cautioned for cynically hauling back Williams – in a moment which proved crucial. Newell floated the free kick towards the far post for Wood to slide the ball home to regain the lead for the Millers.
HT Extra Time Millers 2 Shrews 1
The second period of extra time was a scrappy affair with Rotherham comfortably repelling Shrewsbury's increasingly desperate attacks. A stop start affair with players understandably going down with cramp before the whistle sounded with the Millers back in the Championship deservedly so on the balance of play.
FULL TIME ROTHERHAM UNITED 2 SHREWSBURY TOWN 1
PS; It's about time the FA rethought the venue for the Play Off final. Fans are rightly fed up of the rip off prices of tickets, travel & associated extras (the programme was a tenner ffs) of a trip to a London venue who's iconic status that has eroded over recent years ( Spurs home games, NFL, Semi Finals etc). IMO it's time to end this cash cow for the FA.
Number 44 SkyBet League 1 Play off Semi Final 2nd Leg Rotherham United 2 Scunthorpe United 0 (4-2 agg
The first ten minutes or saw was a cagey affair with the two teams finding their feet in the game but the visiting Iron started to get on top & created the game's first real chance when full back Townsend produced a lovely ball to Adelakun who's first time shot produced a smart save from Millers keeper Marek Rodak. On the half hour mark the Millers started to force the Iron on the backfoot & after the Millers aussie midfielder Ryan Williams had a goalbound effort courageously blocked by Iron defender McCardle the Millers came even closer to taking the lead when Rotherham's loanee midfielder Richie Towell unleashed a 25 yard effort which was heading towards the top corner of the net until a wonderful save by Iron rookie keeper Ryan Watson tipping the ball for a corner. The home side had their tails up now & their pressure finally paid off in the 2nd minute of first half added time when a long throw by Will Vaulks was powered home from the head of Millers captain Richard Wood.
HT Millers 1 Iron 0
Scunthorpe tried to push forward after the break & should have done better after a clever flick by Ivan Toney sent Duane Holmes through on goal but a heavy first touch allowed Rodak to collect the ball easily. As the Iron puashed forward they were leaving gaps at the back & from one of these breaks Millers winger Joe Newell was only just wide with a left foot shot. The Millers gave themselves some breathing space on 63 minutes with a second goal scored by Vaulks from around 12 yards after a good run & cross from full back Josh Emmanuel. Undeterred the Iron continued to attack, Toney had a decent effort blocked by Wood, & sub McGeehan should have reduced the arrears when he headed horribly wide from a free header 8 yards out. Rotherham could have put the game out of sight on 83 minutes when sub Jon Taylor's close range effort was again kept out brilliantly by Watson in the Iron goal. Not to be outdone Rodak had to be at his best to keep out efforts from McGeehan & Holmes in the latter stages of what was a pulsating match.
FT Millers 2 Iron 0
The Millers move on to a Wembley showdown with Shrewsbury Town on May 27th with a deserved win over the two legs but Iron fans should be proud of their team who provided a lot of effort & determination over the two games.
Number 43 Rotherham United 1 Blackpool 0 SkyBet League 1 Saturday 5th May 2018
With fourth place secured for the Millers & the Tangerines comfortably in mid table there was very little to play for & the early play resembled a pre season friendly with little action of any note. The first chance fell to the home side on 18 minutes when a loose ball fell to full back Josh Emmanuel but his 20 yarder flew over the bar. The Millers continued to threaten & Emmanuel's full back partner Joe Mattock saw a fine header fly just over the bar. Pool had an opportunity on the half hour from a free kick but Sean Longstaffs effort was comfortably saved by Marek Rodak in the Millers goal. The Millers were continuing to press though with centre back Richard Wood & striker Michael Smith going close before the break.
HT Millers 1 Pool 0
Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer's half time team talk seemed to work as his team started much brighter & they nearly opened the scoring on 50 minutes, forward Nathan Delfouneso nearly connecting with a Longstaff pull back but after enjoying their best spell of the game Pool found themselves trailing when on 58 minutes a hopeful cross was headed back by the Millers aussie midfielder Ryan Williams to fellow midfielder Will Vaulks who's left foot shot found the net from the edge of the box. Blackpool responded strongly with efforts from Callum Cooke & Colin Daniel bringing saves from Rodak. Delfouneso should have equalised when he hit a close range effort wide following good work by defender Clark Robertson. In a rare Rotherham attack a wonderful save by Blackpool keeper Christoffer Mafoumbi prevented Vaulks making it 2-0 but soon after Rodak surpassed even that making a miraculous double save from Kelvin Mellor's bullet header & sub Mark Cullen's follow up effort. Threre was still time for Pool's Ollie Turton & sub Dan Agyei to miss presentable chances as Pool brought down the curtain on 2017/18 with an unlucky defeat.
A two leg play off with Scunthorpe now awaits the Millers with the first leg at Glanford Park next Saturday lunchtime (1230pm)
Number 42 SkyBet League 2 Accrington Stanley 1 Lincoln City 0 28th April 2018
Stanley who needed a single point to win the EFL League 2 title started edgily & initially struggled to cope with the Imps physical style but Stanley keeper Chapman had little difficulty keeping out Michael Bostwick's flicked header. Imps striker Matt Green was inches away from collecting Alex Woodyard's through ball as Lincoln continued to threaten. On 20 minutes however it was the host who almost went in front, top scorer Billy Kee forced a fine save from Lincoln keeper Ryan Alsop when his 18 yard effort went through a sea of legs but Alsop was equal to his effort. Spurred on by the near miss & a lot of noise from their enthusiastic fans Stanley started to take control & after Kee scuffed a presentable chance wide they deservedly took the lead, midfielder Jordan Clark scoring from close range after a Sean McConville cross. As half time approached with Stanley well in control, Lincoln defender Scott Wharton was adjudged to have brought down Stanley's Seamus Conneely in the area but Kee's weak spot kick was well saved by Alsop.
HT Stanley 1 Imps 0
The Imps started the second half well & had Stanley penned in their own half for a long period but no real chances emerged & Stanley looked strong in defence. Lincoln did come close on the hour, defender Luke Waterfall heading a Lee Frecklington corner narrowly over the bar. The Imps came even closer to a leveller ten minutes from time when a goalbound Green shot was deflected narrowly over the bar but Stanley's defence held firm. The final whistle brought wild scenes of delight from both Stanley's players & fans celebrating Stanley's first Championship of any sort in the reformed club's 50 year history.
FT Stanley 1 Imps 0
Not a vintage performance by Champions Stanley but they did just enough to take the points. On a personal level & as a neutral fan I feel privileged to witness the greatest day in the history of a lovely little football club. There were older guys who had supported Stanley's first incarnation prior to their demise in 1962 wiping tears of pure joy at the final whistle, just incredible scenes. Who say's nice guys finish last?
Number 41 SkyBet Championship Derby County 3 Cardiff City 1 24th April 2018
Number 40 SkyBet League 1 Rotherham United 2 Bristol Rovers 0
Number 39 SkyBet League 2 Grimsby Town 2 Barnet 2 14/4/18
Number 38 SkyBet League 1 Rotherham United 3 Fleetwood Town 2 7/4/18
Number 37 SkyBet League 1 Rotherham United 1 Peterborough United 1 30/3/18
Number 36 UEFA U21 Euro Qualifier England U21 2 Ukraine U21 1
Number 35 Skybet League 1 Bradford City 1 Gillingham 0 24th March 2018
Number 34 Sky Bet Championship Sheffield United 0 Nottingham Forest 0
Number 33 Skybet League 1 Rotherham United 0 Rochdale 1
Number 32 Skybet League 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 Rotherham United 1 17/2/18
Number 31 SkyBet League 1 Rotherham United 2 AFC Wimbledon 0
Number 30 FA Cup 4th Round Sheffield United 1 Preston North End 0 27/1/18
Number 29 SkyBet League 1 Rotherham United 1 Portsmouth 0 20/1/18
Number 28 FA Cup 3rd Round Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Swansea City 0
Number 27 Skybet League 2 Lincoln City 2 Forest Green Rovers 1 30/12/17
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