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Rotherham United 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Saturday, 22nd Apr 2017 17:17

Tom Adeyemi’s 79th minute goal saw already-relegated Rotherham United to a 1-0 win against a much-changed Blues side at the New York Stadium. Town keeper Dean Gerken saved a seventh minute Danny Ward penalty, while the Blues went closest to scoring when Dominic Samuel hit the bar in the first half.

Mick McCarthy made nine changes for a game which had nothing riding on it with only skipper Luke Chambers and left-back Myles Kenlock remaining from the team which beat Newcastle United 3-1 on Monday.

Gerken returned in goal with Tommy Smith partnering Chambers at the centre of the defence and Josh Emmanuel at right-back.

In midfield, Teddy Bishop joined Toumani Diagouraga in central midfield, while Andre Dozzell was to their left and Danny Rowe made his full Town debut on the right of a front three. On-loan Reading man Samuel was also handed his full debut up front along with Brett Pitman.

Former Town keeper Lewis Price was on the bench for the Millers, while defender Semi Ajayi, who had a trial with the Blues in 2015, was among the starters.

Grant Ward, who was amongst the Town subs, was warmly applauded by the New York Stadium faithful when his named was announced prior to kick-off having spent last season on loan with at Rotherham.

Neither side had threatened until the seventh minute when the home side were awarded a penalty by referee Jeremy Simpson, who gave three the last time he took charge of a Blues match, the 2-1 loss at Reading in September.

Danny Ward, a January Town target, won a battle for a ball into the area with Chambers and his shot deflected to Jon Taylor, who was clumsily bundled over by Josh Emmanuel as he broke into the area. The official looked to have got it right.

Ward took what was his side’s first spotkick of the season and slammed it low to Gerken’s left but the Blues glovesman, making only his fifth start of the season, got across superbly and stuck out a strong arm to keep it out, much to the delight of the visiting fans behind his goal.

Two minutes later, Ward played a ball for Adeyemi to chase but Emmanuel held him off and Gerken claimed.

On 14 the Town keeper comfortably dealt with a Taylor strike at the far post with Rotherham having started strongly, despite missing the chance to go in front from the spot.

However, the Blues were beginning to pass the ball around in spells and two minutes later, Samuel won a freekick just outside the area but which ultimately came to nothing.

Rotherham continued to create opportunities at the other end and on 21 Gerken failed to punch a ball lofted back into the area after a corner and Chambers and Smith made important blocks from Adeyemi and Ajayi before Kenlock eventually cleared the danger.

Dozzell had by now moved inside with Bishop on the left of a midfield four and was starting to see more of the ball. In the 23rd minute Ajayi did well to cut out a clever through ball for Samuel.


On 34 Carlton Morris shot well over for the Millers but three minutes later the Blues went close to going in front.

Dozzell fed Rowe to his right and the January signing from Macclesfield cut in and hit a low shot which Rotherham keeper Richard O’Donnell saved well down to his left. The loose ball fell to Samuel at a tight angle and the on-loan Royal smashed the rebound against the bar.

Town, with Dozzell beginning to pull the strings with increasing confidence in the centre of midfield, were getting on top and starting to press for a goal as half-time approached.

In the final moments of one minute of injury time Rotherham striker Ward pulled up as he chased a ball alongside Smith with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring and was replaced by Alex Bray at the start of the second half.

Much-changed Town had taken a while to settle and would have been behind but for Gerken’s excellent penalty save.

The Millers had one or two more chances before the Blues began to take charge in the latter stages with Rowe and then Samuel both unfortunate not to have scored.

Town, who had Bishop back in a central role and Dozzell on the left as the half restarted, struck the second half’s first shot but Samuel’s low effort from 30 yards flew well wide of O’Donnell’s right post.

Eight minutes after the restart the Millers were forced to swap Ajayi, who had undergone treatment for an injury in the first half, for Anthony Forde.

Moments later, Diagouraga was booked for a foul and from the freekick deep on the left Will Vaulks stabbed an Adeyemi long ball wide from a tight angle on the right.

On 57 at the other end Pitman seized on an error by Vaulks as they chased a bouncing ball into the area but under-hit his shot and O’Donnell saved to his right.

Bishop was replaced by Kieffer Moore in the 63rd minute with Samuel moving to the left of a front with Rowe on the right of the midfield three.

Two minutes after the the change, the ex-Forest Green Rovers frontman wasn’t far away from putting the Blues in front. Rowe and Pitman had exchanged passes on the right and the ex-Bournemouth man crossed low but just too far in front of the sliding Moore.

Rowe hit a deflected shot wide in the 66th minute with the Blues starting to put the Millers under pressure.

Three minutes later, the former Macclesfield man went even closer when the ball fell to him following a freekick on the left. However, his deftly struck effort from the edge of the box curled just the wrong side of O’Donnell’s right post.

Town threatened again in the 70th minute when Moore was sent away on the right and crossed low for Samuel but Darnell Fisher turned the ball across the face of goal and behind. From the corner, Chambers nodded down and wide.

Joe Mattock picked up the Millers’ first booking for a poor challenge on Kenlock before Town swapped Diagouraga for Kevin Bru.

Rotherham chances had been rare since the break but on 78 the home side weren’t far away from opening the scoring. Forde crossed from the left and sub Jonson Clarke-Harris’s header caught Smith before bouncing past the wrong-footed Gerken’s right post.

But Millers fans didn’t have to wait too much longer for a goal. Following a corner, Fisher returned the ball from deep and it fell to Adeyemi, who smashed past Gerken.

Town almost got back on terms immediately, Moore heading a Rowe corner from the left goalwards but Fisher nodded off the line.

The Blues went close again on 83 but O’Donnell did well to block Samuel’s powerfully hit volley.

The Millers might have made it 2-0 a minute later when Gerken pawed Forde’s left-wing cross out to Taylor but the winger blazed over.

Town swapped Rowe, who had looking lively before tiring towards the end, for Freddie Sears for the final five minutes.

Clarke-Harris curled a freekick wide in four minutes of injury time which Rotherham saw out comfortably to end their run of 17 games without a win and to record only their fifth home victory of the season, the final whistle receiving a loud cheer from the Millers’ beleaguered support.

The game had looked set to end in a goalless draw - which would probably have been a fairer reflection of the game overall - before Adeyemi’s goal, which was a poor one to concede from Town’s perspective with Fisher’s ball into the box one which ought to have been dealt with.

Prior to Rotherham going in front, the Blues, although not always fluent, had looked the more likely scorers with chances starting to be carved out with greater regularity and they might have done better with some of their opportunities.

While the Millers goal led to the inevitable chants aimed at Mick McCarthy from sections of the travelling support, the result should been seen in the context of Town having fielded a young and significantly changed team - featuring five academy graduates - against a more senior side, even if it was one as comprehensively relegated as Rotherham.

The Blues have the dubious honour of being the only Championship team not to have beaten the Millers at least once this season.

There were positives to be taken from the display with Dozzell dictating the game for spells before tiring late on, while Rowe was a threat from the right and, along with Samuel, will feel he ought to have taken at least one of his chances.

The result sees the Blues drop to 16th with two games of their 2016/17 remaining, at home to Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday and at Nottingham Forest on the final day.

Rotherham: O’Donnell, Fisher, Ajayi (Forde 53), Wood, Mattock, Adeyemi, Smallwood, Vaulks, Taylor, Morris (Clarke-Harris 70), Ward (Bray 46). Unused: Price, Newell, Belaid, Purrington.

Town: Gerken, Emmanuel, Chambers (c), T Smith, Kenlock, Diagouraga (Bru 75), Bishop (Moore 63), Dozzell, Rowe (Sears 85), Samuel, Pitman. Unused: Bialkowski, Skuse, Digby, Ward, Sears. Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire). Att: 8,266 (Town: 704).


Photo: TWTD



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prebsa added 17:20 - Apr 22
Changing out formation to match Rotherham is not acceptable, why is it always us matching the other team. And some point swell Bishop found himself playing at left mid, its just not good enough!

Mick Out!
28

midastouch added 17:20 - Apr 22
Definitely a case of an opportunity missed for several of our fringe players.
11

alfromcol added 17:21 - Apr 22
Sums up the season under MM's leadership. Sooner over the better. Hopefully, MM gone by August.
22

ITFC_Cotton added 17:21 - Apr 22
Shows how poor our so called 'fringe' players are, I think 9 changes from Monday was too many but we all know what MM thinks about fans views on team selection! Had Gerks not of saved the pen a 2-0 loss is even more embarrassing! Serious clear out needed in the summer and hopefully MM will be one of them.
29

DoseOfReality added 17:22 - Apr 22
Could pick his backside

Good riddance MM
5

bluey123 added 17:25 - Apr 22
What a disgrace losing to relegated Rotherham McCarthy has to be the worst manager in Ipswich history how McCarthy lovers can support this moron I don't understand.
They will get everything they deserve and get relegated next season with this idiot in charge.
16

runaround added 17:25 - Apr 22
Embarrassing result but it was an experimental side I guess.
Unfortunately the result is unlikely to get any of the players who came into the side today much chance of becoming regulars.
This season cannot end soon enough
19

jas0999 added 17:27 - Apr 22
Although this was little more than a friendly, it's still a disappointing result against essentially a division one team. I don't entirely agree with TWTDs report; this game shouldn't be seen in context of the changes. Indeed quite the opposite, it demonstrates what we have known for a while - the squad depth isn't good enough.

We are the only team to not beat Rotherham this season. Just as the team and manager deserved credit last week against Newcastle, it deserves criticism this week. We should have been good enough to win easy. We didn't. Defeat is poor.

One good win against Newcastle and folk got carried away. This season and indeed the last eighteen months has been more today than Monday.

There can be no excuse. Season as a whole dreadful. Remarkable the manager is still here.
33

therein61 added 17:28 - Apr 22
Why ring the changes and play people out of position!?? just another excuse for him to play the chosen ones!! he hung a few players out to dry today and that is the way the man operates(because he wants his favourites in even if these poor beggars played out of their skins today he would revert to type!) and why this club is in the state it is in.
21

runningout added 17:28 - Apr 22
oh bum.. not much to be happy about right now
4

martin587 added 17:28 - Apr 22
Well,that says a lot about our fringe players.Cannot even get a draw at a relegated side.Massive clearout in the summer needed,nothing more to be said.!!😡😡
5

midastouch added 17:28 - Apr 22
OMG Mick is bigging up Douglas just now on his post match radio interview saying how much fitter he looked against Birmingham compared to most of the players out there today.
2

BlueMachines added 17:29 - Apr 22
9 changes was too many. You can't judge this team in one performance. Result absolutely meaningless
11

pumppedlar2 added 17:30 - Apr 22
Well Marcus, now you know how strong your first team squad is
3

bluey123 added 17:35 - Apr 22
This moron couldn't even thank supporters for making the long trek to Rotherham get rid now
11

Seasider added 17:36 - Apr 22
Micks not happy,and has given the players a roasting he says.Mentioning how Jonathan Douglas could play at full pelt for 90 mins compared to some on today(YES REALLY).Wasn't happy with defensive errors either.

I said before that would not like to see so many changes especially in cup games,and obviously so many changes makes team disjointed;but suppose cant be too critical.

Interesting that down to 16th, which if we finish in that position will be lowest for over 50 years I believe.Also Town are the only team not to beat Rotherham this season so nothing to get too excited about next season either,especially if the man from 'Gods' county is still in charge;but hey ho Mr Evans has kindly automatically renewed my season ticket for me!!!
16

roytheboy added 17:36 - Apr 22
Why 9 changes Mick, what did you expect, Sears should have had the last 30 minutes at least, well done against Newcastle it was brilliant, but it is totally unacceptable what you have done today, I know that you needed to see what other players could do, but 9 changes was ridiculous, you indicated during the week that you would respect the league and the supporters, which suggested to me approx. 4 to 5 changes maximum, I am very disappointed by what you have done today, it is not what I expect from our Manager.
10

DurhamTownFan added 17:37 - Apr 22
Was this a case of playing the fringe players so that he doesn't have to pick them again? If so, disappointing. Bishop isn't going to give you his best football on the wing is he, nor is Dozzel.

Agree with everyone else: the season can't end soon enough, and it needs a fresh pair of eyes in charge to hit 'reset' and assess all of our players anew in the summer. Sadly I doubt that will happen.
9

EssexTractor added 17:38 - Apr 22
The result matters not.
What really matters is who coaches players not in the team , who inspires players not in the team?
Who motivates them to step up to the plate , for heavens sake today against Lowly Rotherham?
Little evidence that the motivators exist, little evidence that in truth we have sufficient personal will or skill within the playing staff.
So no depth that would encourage smiley faces now for next season.
A real order for whoever has the task, to make 2017-18 more acceptable than 2016-17.
A tall order.
8

TractorBoy666 added 17:38 - Apr 22
I genuinely can't believe how many fans I've read that are happy to allow this man to remain in charge next season along with the worst owner to date, Sheepshanks may have not had the most money but he loved the club. I just listened to McCarthy once again bigging up Douglas, why? To continue to wind up fans, he couldn't care less about us or the club he only cares about himself and the plaudits he receives. We were told not to protest until we're safe so what's the excuse now? Have fans forgiven him after the Newcastle result?! I personally was against making wholesale changes this weekend as it was a good time to try and build some momentum but 9 changes?! That's just asking to be beaten. I'm staying well away from this club until changes are made.
25

norfolk1 added 17:40 - Apr 22
I bet Rotherham wish they played Ipswich every week, they would have had 92 points the same as Brighton, just a thought.
14

corfu72 added 17:41 - Apr 22
OK,MM made 9 changes to give the fringe players a chance to prove themselves,but they didn't take it.
Just goes to show how weak our squad is. There needs to be a major clear out in the summer and a big investment from the owner.Be glad when the season is over.!!
4

Bert added 17:42 - Apr 22
Many of you on here asked for this so stop bleating. No wonder the club ignores the one dimensional critics.
-11

battyblue added 17:42 - Apr 22
What a tw@t McCarthy is its okay with sensible changes but he has to go balls out and virtually change the whole team ,probably so he can flick two fingers again and say see i was right picking my proper blokes all along.We/he could of made three or four changes and two or three more from the bench and won the game.The sooner he is gone the better he has already said Lawrence wants premier football so no chance of him staying here.
11

bluemike1969 added 17:43 - Apr 22
Anyone that can honestly rate this inept fool is beyond me. You have no clue McCarthy and I can't wait for your post match interview. At the end of the season do the right thing and go. I can no longer look at your smug face thinking you are gods gift to football management. You hate us and we hate you so do us all a favour and sling your hook
I've been watching my local side brightlingsea regent who won the Ryman league this season which has been alot more exciting than watching the town on occasions.
Do you enjoy laughing at us?
13


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