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Rotherham United 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 28th Jan 2020 21:49

Rotherham skipper Richard Wood’s 42nd minute goal saw the Millers to a 1-0 victory over Town and back to the top of the table at the Blues’ expense. Wood headed home as the South Yorkshiremen dominated against an under par Town, who almost grabbed a late undeserved equaliser when sub James Norwood hit the post.

Town boss Paul Lambert named an unchanged XI for the third game in a row for the first time this season.

Will Norris was again in goal behind a back three of skipper Luke Chambers, James Wilson and Luke Woolfenden. Luke Garbutt and Gwion Edwards were the wing-backs.

In midfield, Emyr Huws and Flynn Downes were behind Alan Judge with Will Keane and Kayden Jackson the strikers. There was one change on the bench with Myles Kenlock coming in for Josh Earl.

There was a late change of referee with Antony Coggins taking over from scheduled official Marc Edwards.

Matt Crooks, who scored both goals in the Millers’ 2-0 defeat of the Blues at Portman Road in October, nodded an early header wide in a scruffy first couple of minutes.

The home side, whose direct approach was starting to pay dividends, came within an inch or two of going in front in the 11th minute when Town were caught daydreaming as Daniel Barlaser played a quick freekick into Kyle Vassell on the right of the box and the striker’s well-struck shot cannoned off the underside of the bar.

Eventually, the ball ended up behind with referee Coggins awarding a corner, wrongly according to the Town players, and from the corner Michael Smith headed straight at Norris.

Rotherham threatened again in the 18th minute when a superb cross-field pass found Hakeeb Adelakun breaking into the area on the left. However, the full-back’s first touch took the ball a little wide and Norris was able to block his attempt at goal. Following the corner, Crooks headed wide.

Town, in blue shorts, had had a frustrating first 20 minutes with a number of arguable freekick decisions going against them in what had been a very stop-start opening, while they had been unable to impose themselves on the game and get the ball down and pass it around in the manner which has become familiar in the last few games against a physical and determined Rotherham side.

As the clock passed the 25-minute mark there was a round of applause in tribute to Matlock Town player Jordan Sinnott, who was killed at the weekend. Millers midfield Crooks and his team-mates were wearing black armbands in tribute to his friend and former Huddersfield team-mate.

The game continued in much the same manner as it moved past the half-hour mark. Much of the match was being played in the Town half, but without Norris being particularly threatened, while the Blues looked to get the ball forward quickly to strikers Jackson and Keane but without success.

On 37 Crooks was shown the first yellow card of the game for hauling back Keane after the striker had found some space to break into in the Millers half.


Four minutes later, Rotherham, who had been a threat from set pieces all half, took the lead from a corner on the left.

Smith headed a deep ball played beyond the far post towards Norris, Vassell toed it against the keeper’s knee, sending it into the air and Millers’ skipper Wood nodded into the roof of the net from a matter of inches. Norris protested that he had been fouled but looked to have little case.

A minute after the goal Huws was booked for a frustrated foul on Vassell before the board was raised announcing two additional minutes.

Town won a corner in the additional time following a break forward by Downes but the flag-kick eventually came to nothing.

The home side deserved their lead at the break with Town having shown little of their recent form during the first half. The players’ frustration at their display, and a number of the refereeing decisions, was evident.

Rotherham might have gone ahead earlier through Vassell with the Blues never passing with the fluency of recent weeks and all too often looking to hit their strike pairing with early balls over the top, a tactic which had yielded no success.

The second period started much as the first had ended with Rotherham on top, however, the Millers were unable to test Norris further in the early stages.

On 54 Judge was played in on the right but his cross was far too strong for Jackson, the only Town player in the middle.

Two minutes later at the other end, an Adelakun cross from the left took a deflection and bounced across the Town area and reached the far post where it just looped over Chiedozie Ogbene, who had a spell on trial at Town in January 2018.

The Blues were unable to get out of their final third and on 58 Wilson blocked a Vassell overhead kick from a Smith knockdown.

A minute later the Millers thought they doubled their lead but referee Coggins adjudged that Wood had knocked the ball out of Norris’s hands as he headed a corner from the right home.

In the 65th minute Ogbene broke into the area on the right and hit a low shot which Norris saved at his near post. Rotherham were continuing to press with the Blues backline forced to dig deep.

Two minutes later, with Town still to make any impression on the half from an attacking perspective, James Norwood took over from Keane, then on 68 Jon Nolan replaced Huws in midfield with the Welshman perhaps worryingly limping as he left the field. Rotherham switched Crooks for Ben Wiles in the 72nd minute.

The Millers went close again on 74, Michael Ihiekwe’s header from a corner on the right ricocheting across the six-yard box with Norris just taking it away from a Rotherham foot at the far post.

Sub Wiles hit a low shot just wide, before the South Yorkshiremen swapped Vassell for Freddie Ladapo.

Rotherham struck the woodwork for the second time on the night in the 77th minute, Adelakun hitting a shot from 30 yards which beat Norris but cannoned off the bar. Soon after, Woolfenden was booked for a foul on Ogbene.

Town managed their first shot on target in the 80th minute, Judge playing in Jackson on the right of the box but the striker scuffed his effort and Iversen, virtually a spectator in the second half, claimed easily at his near post. Seconds later, Judge was replaced by Freddie Sears.

Joe Mattock was booked in the 83rd minute for pulling back Norwood as the striker broke towards goal. The Town number 10 argued it was an obvious goalscoring opportunity but referee Coggins wasn’t convinced.

Garbutt took the freekick 25 yards out and curled a strike which was dipping just under the bar until Iversen superbly tipped it over.

Rotherham replaced Adelakun with Matt Olusunde with two minutes remaining and Town huffing and puffing but not looking particularly like getting on terms.

The fourth official indicated an additional five minutes with Town finally making some impact going forward but with the Millers looking a danger on the break.

In the second minute of time added-on Norwood went within a whisker of levelling. Having been played in on the left of the six-yard box by Sears the ex-Tranmere man flicked the ball past Iversen and it struck the far post before falling to a Rotherham defender.

Moments later, Jackson appeared to be wiped out by Wood as he broke towards the area before the Rotherham skipper and Garbutt clashed, the Town man appearing to aim a kick at the veteran Millers defender.

That was the last action of a very disappointing evening for the Blues, who looked a pale shadow of the team which has impressed since the turn of the year as they fell to their first League One defeat of 2020.

Town, who struggled with the Millers' physicality throughout, failed to seriously threaten until the final minutes with the substitutions having an impact.

However, despite Norwood almost grabbing an equaliser from what seemed an impossible position, it was too little too late and Rotherham deserved the three points.

The result sees the Blues drop off the top of the table with the Millers replacing them with Peterborough United at Portman Road on Saturday.

Rotherham: Iversen, Thompson, Ihiekwe, Wood (c), Mattock, Ogbene, Barlaser, Crooks (Wiles 72), Adelakun, Vassell (Ladapo 75), Smith. Unused: Bilboe, Olosunde, MacDonald, Lindsay, Lamy.

Town: Norris, Chambers (c), Wilson, Woolfenden, Edwards, Downes, Huws (Nolan 68), Garbutt, Judge (Sears 80), Keane (Norwood 67), Jackson. Unused: Holy, Kenlock, Skuse, Bishop. Referee: Antony Coggins (Oxfordshire). Att: 9,327 (Town: 923).


Photo: Pagepix



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runningout added 23:47 - Jan 28
The kick up the bum we needed
1

blueboy1981 added 00:00 - Jan 29
100% improvement required for Saturday - or expected an Ivan Toney lesson on how to score, and win a football match.
No joking - it will be necessary, after tonights shambolic effort.
-2

blueboy1981 added 00:02 - Jan 29
..... typo - should read:- ‘expect' not ‘expected'.
2

blueboy1981 added 00:15 - Jan 29
.... quite simply, we are too easy a Club to Manage, and Play for - I saw more effort, commitment, and will to WIN tonight from Rotherham, than I have from us all season so far.
That was why we came away with nothing - and deserved nothing.
0

Phil1969 added 06:09 - Jan 29
Chalk this one down to Mick's tactics that served us so well but so disliked in the Championship. Having been pleased to see the back of him now we are trying to play football so many on here seem to yearn for the previous seasons style. Div one isn't pretty neither is the Championship. There is no need to panic 10 of our last 16 games are on the lush Portman road time to get behind the lads more than ever to avoid the playoff lottery!
0

Steelmonkey added 06:15 - Jan 29
Stats at half time said neither side managed a shot on goal.
Well at least the result has pleased the Lambert moaners, “their back”
Outmuscled and out played just as the game went at PR and from what I've read we reverted to the hoofball game against a big physical side who we played into their hands.
We will never go a season without losing to someone, let's just get behind the team and enjoy the wins when we get them.
I hold my hands up to the fans who made the journey on a Tuesday night, great support.
2

Nobbysnuts added 07:29 - Jan 29
Well that's the double completed by Barcelona (sorry I mean rotherham ) rubbish utter rubbish
3

londontractorboy57 added 07:31 - Jan 29
Better to get relegated than play MM hoofball quote from many of the numbskulls are you happy now!!!
-1

chalky added 08:12 - Jan 29
I agree with almost all the comments on a very poor show by Town. We are clearly far too fragile when faced with top six sides. One simply doesn't have any confidence that Town are going to string a series of wins together and anything short of a victory against Peterboro will be unacceptable. Why on earth can't Marcus Evans put in some really worthwhile investment in the almost ended transfer window ?
0

midastouch added 09:13 - Jan 29
@chalky, if this is anything to go by (please see the following link) don't hold your breath in answer to your question above:
https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/lambert-on-bialkowski-sale-and-transfer-frustration
0

r2d2 added 09:21 - Jan 29
Why do people sound so surprised? We are always out muscled against this type of team. We are powder puff at best. The physical side of the game we are clueless at. There is no way we are getting out of this league unless we toughen up. We need top 2, as we wont beat any of the sides in the playoff places. We are way too weak. Lambert really isnt the answer.
-1

brittaniaman added 09:24 - Jan 29
How the heck did Peterboro beat Rotherham last Sat. is beyond me ???
On that Form it does not look good for us this coming Sat.
We Played like Champions against Lincoln to gain Top Spot, yet 3 days later Rotherham made us look like 3rd tier Strugglers, was it the journey, night game, to late for Subs again or Tactics ????
1

blueboy1981 added 09:26 - Jan 29
Londontractorboy57 - What world do you live in ? - it's certainly not this one .... !!
And wherever it is, you won't be seeing me there.
-1

Suffolkboy added 10:08 - Jan 29
Having now watched the highlights it's clear the report once again reflected accurately the game on the night !
As for many years , we lacked the physicality and strength of character and belief to come to terms with a side better equipped all round .
Cast your minds back to our Championship season when Wolves looked far and away the best and strongest team we came up against,and well set for Premiership ; they haven't disappointed .
But there are promising signs at ITFC : FD and LW look like developing into strong physical specimens and equipped to do the job ; TB may well shine once again and LG would be a good footballing acquisition .We are still below optimal full strength with several yet to be fully fit .
It may well take another season ,but the team do bring lots of pleasure ; SO last night we were outgunned ,it happens, but once in a while to everyone .
Let's not despair , look on the bright side ,we CAN still do it AND First Class support will always be an enormous help .
COYB
0

Pilgrimblue added 10:15 - Jan 29
I didn't expect any different as we didn't have any ideas of how to play against big side that go direct.
Miller's must feel nailed on for automatically going up so only one space available!
Just hoping this is a one off!!
1

dirtydingusmagee added 10:33 - Jan 29
GUTLESS , another poor performance. Last night showed why we wont be going up, and don't deserve to. Feb fixtures will expose Town . We have a poor record in play offs, but I don't think we will need to worry, I doubt we will make the play offs .
3

blueherts added 10:35 - Jan 29
This was honestly a 1-0 thrashing . We could have been 3 down easily . Why should we be surprised when they finished 9 points above us last season in the Championship
If there was one game made for a physical striker - Norwood - this was it . They are a team of giants across the pitch but not the most mobile - It cried out for some flair or someone to run at them - Bish should have come on - . No wins against Top 8 teams needs to change pretty quickly . Rotherham and Wycombe play it ugly but effective .and top the division . Anyway I quite fancy a day out at Wembley in May !!
3

Dolphinblue added 11:00 - Jan 29
Over reaction fron thenegcrew as per....
-3

Cakeman added 12:38 - Jan 29
Just a defeat against arguably the best league One team on their own patch. Nothing to get too down about. Rotherham know how to play in league One and know how to get out of league One whereas we are not experienced in that division. It was no disgrace to lose to them.
We must get something out of the Peterborough and Sunderland games to keep them both at arms length. It's getting mighty tight within the top ten of the division.

1

dirtydingusmagee added 13:10 - Jan 29
Cakeman , I respect your views, however ,the result is not a disgrace, but the gutless performance was, it was the same last season hence we are now Lge 1, and where we will be for sometime if things don't change.
0

blueboy1981 added 14:58 - Jan 29
Dolphinblue - as happy to lose as ever !
-1

blueboy1981 added 15:12 - Jan 29
There is close on a thousand words describing our performance last night, when one would have been more than adequate.
Even in this 3rd Division of English football we proved last night that we are poor, if things don't radically improve over the next two games, I can see us missing out on the play offs, least of all anything better.
At the moment we have a Manager who needs to realise what level he is managing at, and a collection of players who think they are better than they are.
Look how many went missing on a cold night in Yorkshire last night, and I'll remind everyone again - it's the THIRD DIVISION - remember.
Credit to the wonderful away support again - a pleasure to be one of them last night - we deserved better.
0

Walk_the_Wark added 16:29 - Jan 29
Reuter- yep would make a good athlete, but sadly not a footballer
0

ITFCsince73 added 17:01 - Jan 29
Getting Mick ma out the club, couldn't come soon enough.
We decided to go with the same captaincy, that has so far failed to this day.
It remains a stumbling block.
Hopefully resolved this summer.
8 and 4 can't leave soon enough. Then we move on...
-1

blueboy1981 added 17:23 - Jan 29
..... I think you're being somewhat unfair to Chambers ITFCsince73 - not the best of players granted, but he has played well this season - and remember, as again last night he is, and has been under almost constant onslaught in defence for far too long, in fact seasons, not just an odd match or two. This is inevitable with our obvious, and continuous lack of firepower / goals - how many times have we won by more than one goal, even in this 3rd Division ?
I personally wish we had a few more in the team that had the same passion for the game, and our Club as he has.
Talk is always cheap from players, action where it counts is what tells the true story of a player.
Having said that, he is a player who has a tendency to drift in terms of concentration which can then put even more pressure on himself, but I do feel he has worked on that this season.
0


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