Matt Derbyshire’s 38th minute goal has given Rotherham a 1-0 lead over the Blues at half-time at the New York Stadium. Town’s best two chances of the half fell to Daryl Murphy, but the returning frontman failed to take them.

Murphy, back after missing the Wigan game with a calf strain, took over from Noel Hunt up front in an otherwise unchanged Town side.

Rotherham included three former Blues loanees, Frazer Richardson, Paul Green and Conor Sammon.

Murphy had a golden chance to net his 19th goal of the season after only 18 seconds when he latched onto skipper Luke Chambers’s ball down the right and outmuscled Millers’ captain Craig Morgan. The Irishman brought the ball into the area but scuffed his shot to keeper Adam Collin when he really should have scored.

On seven, Chambers scraped a weak effort wide with neither side having been able to create another clear-cut chance. The home side’s greatest threat so far had been a long throw from Kari Arnason on the left towards Sammon which the Blues defence repelled.

Murphy had another opportunity to add to his season’s haul in the ninth minute when Jay Tabb’s corner from the left landed at his feet having been missed by Christophe Berra, but the Town number 10 blazed over. The Blues striker, who complained that he had been dragged back as he unleashed his shot, again probably should have scored.

Cole Skuse picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on the breaking Paul Green in the 17th minute. From Ben Pringle’s freekick, Arnason’s downward header deflected through to Bartosz Bialkowski.

McGoldrick sent a weak shot through to Collin on 27, then a minute later Chambers exchanged passes with Bru but the Town captain’s shot was blocked.

Moments later, with the Blues briefly putting the Millers under pressure, Bru and Tabb interchanged on the left but the Mauritian international failed to find a team-mate with his low cross. The ball eventually ran out to Skuse, whose strike failed to trouble Collin.

Just after the half hour, after Town had cleared a corner, Richie Smallwood floated a ball into the area towards Matt Derbyshire but just beyond the former England U21 international.

On 33 Tabb smashed a powerful volley wide after the ball had fallen perfectly for him on the left just outside the area.

Rotherham had been at their most threatening from set pieces throughout and in the 38th minute a freekick on the left saw them take the lead. Pringle sent the ball in, Newton flicked it on, Morgan nodded it back across the area from the right and Derbyshire headed past Bialkowski from close range.

Town were unable create an opening from which they could get back on terms prior to the break.

On the balance of the half overall, the Blues probably didn’t deserve to be behind with the Millers’ goal having come from their first serious shot on goal of the afternoon.

Up to then Town, without ever really playing particularly well, had had the better of another not overly enthralling game’s opportunities with Murphy having had two very good chances to add to his 18 goals.

Rotherham: Collin, Richardson, Arnason, Morgan (c), Fryers, Newton, Green, Smallwood, Pringle, Sammon, Derbyshire. Subs: Thompson, Bowery, Broadfoot, Milsom, Ward, Hammill, Frecklington.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Anderson, Tabb, Murphy, McGoldrick. Subs: Kenny, Parr, Clarke, S Hunt, N Hunt, Bishop, Sears. Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Photo: Action Images

warktheline added 15:59 - Feb 7 Time to add some invention!
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4-4-2 added 15:59 - Feb 7 Message to Mick McCarthy - Our biggest strength is our defence and our strike force, why not actually go for a win once in a while and trust that our defence can handle itself. Cause slowing the game down does not help the inept midfielders out in the slightest, it just shows off how very weak we are in that area.
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bellazzurri79 added 16:04 - Feb 7 Dear oh dear!!! Let the excuses begin Come on town!!!
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jas0999 added 16:05 - Feb 7 A big 45 minutes coming up. Need to turn this round and win the game. Bournemouth having no problems against Wigan. On Monday the club sent intention that they didn't need to strengthen a very small side which has looked tired in previous weeks. They must feel they have enough to turn this around. Let's hope they are right! I hope so!
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Seasider added 16:05 - Feb 7 Am not at the game but will be interested to hear later from those that were. Alex Mathie who should know a bit about the game felt first half that Town not attacking the ball enough and are a bit sluggish.Feels 2nd half that Anderson who they say has been anonymous and Tabb should be replaced by Sears and Bishop
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Seasider added 16:07 - Feb 7 Also since he has seen them last in December notices how poor they are now compared to then. Sears and Bishop on for Tabb and Anderson,surprise surprise,now 433
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Ipswich58 added 16:20 - Feb 7 Should have started with both. Stubborn pig headed and one dimensional MM.
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bellazzurri79 added 16:22 - Feb 7 Connor sammon!!!!! I don't want any bulls*** excuses after this one this is a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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cartman1972 added 16:22 - Feb 7 We are truly sh*t......
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alliedaz added 16:22 - Feb 7 blank in transfer market will hit us hard now
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Seasider added 16:22 - Feb 7 Connor Sammon has now scored for Rotherham 2.0,and Ince his second for Derby,All 3 teams above us are winning and top two look comfortable. Perhaps this will shake Mick out of his complacency
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bellazzurri79 added 16:24 - Feb 7 DDisgraceful .... No more of these ' but we were bottom when mm took over!!' Terrible terrible terrible something has changed that we don't know about
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EssexTractor added 16:24 - Feb 7 Well looks like the inspirational half time team talk fell on deaf ears! now Conor Sammon makes it 2.0 whilst Derby Bournemouth Middlesboro Norwich march on I do recall a famous comeback in Yorkshire, when losing 2. 0 at Barnsley we scored three times in last 5 minutes....time for Flying Pigs again !!
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EssexTractor added 16:25 - Feb 7 ....oh and Brentford have just scored!
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bellazzurri79 added 16:27 - Feb 7 Looking at the live league table makes me feel sick... 6 pts behind Bournemouth And now we are 5th
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brittaniaman added 16:27 - Feb 7 Cannot see us getting 2 goals back let alone 3 ?? great shame but the warning signs have been there for a while now ???? Hope I can eat my words in about 20 mins. time
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bellazzurri79 added 16:34 - Feb 7 I'm shocked
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blueboy1981 added 16:37 - Feb 7 Surprise, surprise ........... against several players MM didn't rate and allowed to move on. In Mick we trust ........ ?????? If it stays as is - excuses will be reeled off - yet again - wait for it all !!!!
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Ipswich58 added 16:45 - Feb 7 McCarthy needs to hang his head in shame. His tactical ineptness had been well and truly found out. But he won't change. Diabolical and no rubbish excuses about 'strong teams' etc. He is a DONKEY.
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dawoolah added 16:47 - Feb 7 I hate to say this but that £7Million offer for McGoldrick now seems like a massive missed opportunity to cash in on one good season.
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bellazzurri79 added 16:48 - Feb 7 Watford have just scored we are now only 1pt off 6th and 4 from 7!!!! Ffs!!!!!!!!!!
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blueboy1981 added 16:48 - Feb 7 ........ everyone winning around us - but, of course, we must remember teams only become world beaters when we face them ...... apparently !!!!!! What a load of ROLLOCKS.
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Ipswich58 added 16:53 - Feb 7 Well thanks McCarthy for ruining yet another weekend. You seem to be the only person who can't see the problems or the solutions.
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bellazzurri79 added 16:53 - Feb 7 This has been a truly disastrous day ! Automatic has gone without doubt! Playoffs are looking awful with scum only 4 off us now
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brittaniaman added 16:53 - Feb 7 WHEN I SAW THE TEAM SHEET TODAY I thought no way we will get anything today ??? carried on from last weeks diabolical display !!!!
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