Rotherham United 1 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 1 ) Sunday 29 December 2024

 

 

 

County were held to a 1-1 draw away today at Rotherham`s New York Stadium .

The blues , again supported by over 2000 travelling County fans, started so well -taking the lead via a Louie Barry special before the first quarter hour was out, but the Blue & White Army`s  euphoria lasted a mere 5 minutes when the scores were level via a grossly contentious goal, of which more later!

That was, shall we say…. `disappointing` but  add the crudest of fouls by home keeper Dillon Phillips  on Tanto Olaofe as he sped goalward on 30 minutes that went totally unpunished by Mr Doughty the Referee, and anger replaced disappointment for the occupiers of Mears South Stand for much of what went down thereafter.

In my view Rotherham were a poor side , buoyed by some `curious` refereeing decisions . and a late injury to Fraser Horsfall that necessitated him being stretchered off and replaced by Sam Hughes.

As at Huddersfield just a few days ago, County went on to enjoy much possession in attacking positions but again…as at the former McAlpine Stadium there was nothing in the way of finishing to show for lots of huff…puff and a whole lot of effort- Tanto having been substituted for Jack Diamond at half time, presumably due to injury maybe brought on by Mr Phillips` overzealous keeping!

A point from an away draw is no `end of the world` situation ,indeed we`ll take it , but we must improve.

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 The early play was fairly tedious as both teams set about probing circumspectly for a weakness in the opposition- largely without notable success.

Then I awoke with a start as Louie Barry stole the ball off Liam Kelly drawing the keeper but …..sadly…..then hitting him with his shot!

This opened up an altogether different phase in the game and County now looked the side I expected them to be against this Millers side-the ball flying smoothly twixt Wootton, Tanto and Barry – the attack breaking down as a shot from Odin Bailey was charged down in the box.

It was another 2 minutes before Rotherham replied gaining a fortuitous free kick . This was central but some 10 yards out and the kick whizzed inches wide…apparently having touched a County defender en-route!

If this encouraged Millers the feeling could not last, Powell`s effort being claimed coolly by Hinchliffe.

But it was back to County on the ball and playing some neat football- that went up several notches when the ball reached Barry, who took a couple of strides forward before firing an unstoppable shot into the net – County had their 1-0 lead!

That was highly satisfactory, what followed , 5 minutes later, wasn`t !

First off Sam Nombe and Johnson Clarke- Harris bullied a corner off Ibby Touray

County kept this out, but without keeping the ball, and this came back to bight them as it was played up and over the County defence to where Hakeem Odoffin headed home with three in red/ white shirts stood in splendid isolation- way offside.

Odoffin headed the ball in as 2000+ behind Hinchliffe`s goal, and most neutrals in the place, awaited the obvious offside flag which never came – the ref waving away County`s protests – standing truth on its head-the goal stood…..it was 1-1!

It is fair to say that the near side liner ,for a while thereafter , came in for dogs abuse – which did not lessen as Millers started to edge up the park in anticipation perhaps of further yuletide gifts to come from the officials.

We did not have to wait that long – ignoring a ludicrously inaccurate decision to award our hosts a corner- that ended with Hinchliffe saving from Joe Powell- it was apparent that Tanto was beginning to stir things nicely midst home defenders- his shot on the half hour blocked and cleared.

Just a minute later though we were enthusing as Tanto was played clear -he was heading for goal when home keeper Dillon Phillips charged from his line taking him out with the plainest foul`tackle` I have seen this season, and Tanto was flat on the deck.

I am not sure if it was in ,or just outside the box ,but it was most definitely a red card situation except the referee was not interested-  more interested , seconds later , in awarding a free kick to Millers in an unrelated incident of far less gravity!

County seemed fired up by the injustices , play sweeping in a blizzard of blue football into Rotherham`s last third where Barry looked about to test Phillips again before he was mugged by 2 red/white shirted defenders .

That was  a penalty for sure, but again the ref opted to take the contra view flamboyantly waving County`s claims away in annoyingly cavalier fashion!  

Inevitably perhaps ,play was more and more tense after that last action- swinging from one end to the other…Wilks` run for Millers stopped by judicious County defending….Tanto again brought down if less dramatically , Norwood`s free kick ineffective in making anything happen from the situation.

It went on…. Tanto seeing a shot blocked from another County free kick ……Odoffin for Millers , thwarted by Hinchliffe .

We entered the last 5 minutes of the half with Barry gaining a corner , but County were unable to make the flag kick count.

Then an intensely irritating moment or two followed as Joe Rafferty chose to blatantly get Wootton ( who had been booked rather surprisingly earlier) second yellowed with a none too impressive dying swan impression in front of the main stand.

The ref bought it whole , in so far as giving Millers a free kick but then ,extending the tension to unbearable heights ,elected not to second yellow card Woots- irrespective of the merits ( or lack thereof) of the Rafferty case I was expecting the worst but relieved expecting now that Kyle would be subbed at half time so as not to tempt men in red/white shirts or officials in black any further!

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But when the teams came out again for the second half Wootton was still on , but Tanto( who had briefly showed just before the re-start possibly testing a niggle) was not- Jack Diamond on in his place.

The first real action of the half saw a shot by Callum Connolly fizz narrowly passed the keeper`s far post.

That was a promising start and County kept plugging away – Barry and Touray pinging crosses of varying quality over – the best of it ending with a Wootton header that went wide.

County were doing OK- putting Millers under the cosh inducing errors- a risky punch out by Phillips….several instances of panic setting in for  Reece James  who encouraged the blues no end with a rash of conceded corners.

The pressure was on from County from these corners – Diamond unable to get to the best of these – a neat cross by Barry with 10 minutes gone of the half, and it seemed that whatever County came up with, somehow Rotherham would survive- a Norwood shot was charged down….. Diamond`s follow up- ditto, the current spell ending with Phillips grabbing Pye`s probing ball that was begging of someone to apply a finish.

Just before the hour we saw Woots tempt Phillips from his goal …lob him….but then watch in horror as the ball drifted wide.

Diamond meanwhile was struggling to make a mark- lacking support at one point , watching as his cross rose over the bar, and at another not served well by Barry`s final ball that proved to be hit too hard flying out of play.

A considerable delay followed as Fraser Horsfall had prolonged treatment for what looked a nasty injury that eventually necessitated him being stretchered off.

Fraser clearly had to be replaced – Sam Hughes coming on in his stead, in a triple subbing that also saw Collar on for Barry and Southam-Hales for Knoyle.

Ridiculously , when play resumed County were defending a free kick, which they did routinely well.

County did try to attack - they were getting into the home last third OK but without managing to get a shot off.

They did get a free kick, and this looked to offer much as it was lofted to the back of the box where Hughes and Wootton looked to have won a ball Phillips coveted . It looked OK to me…but not to the man in black who saw a foul on the keeper- another poor decision in my view!

Yes…..for sure….County were again back in the unenviable position of ( in boxing parlance) having to knock their opponent out to gain a draw.

Nombe and Green had a moment for Millers next – wrecked by a foul by someone in red/white that offered County the relief of a free kick, and to be fair the Yorkshire side were beginning to warm to their task spending rather more time in our half of the field than is healthy!

But County survived OK into 7 minutes added time with it still 1-1, and for a time I began to get hopeful again as County`s opponents lost their cool conceding a free kick in a decent position ( central if 10 yards out).

Bailey`s kick hit the wall, and the follow up by Touray was altogether too close to the keeper who made a simple but crucial save.

It looked a turkey shoot for a moment as County queued for a shot on goal, but Connolly couldn`t get his shot off…..Bailey did much better but his shot took a deflection bringing a save from Phillips to keep County at bay.

County kept plugging away, but some indifferent crosses did not help their cause.

The home specs had time to get somewhat overexcited next ,in the game`s dying embers – I could not make out the details ,but I heard the cry for a penalty from the locals and saw Mr Dougherty reprise his earlier expansive arm waving session waving our pen claims away , with a similar response declining to oblige Rotherham.

Game over, we take the point, and look to improve…...against…err….Birmingham !!!!

But would you be willing to bet against County turning Brum over ?

It`s just County`s style so to do – believe!

And, from a personal viewpoint, my Sunday was saved by 2 small pieces of Sea Bass, some cabbage and broccoli, some beetroot and a dash or two of mustard I consumed in the time twixt writing the first and second half of today`s report.

Happy New Year to anyone, anywhere who reads this!

See some of you on New Year`s Day!

Rotherham Line up :-

 Phillips, Rafferty, Kelly, James, Powell, Nombe (Holmes 84), Clarke-Harris, Wilks (McWilliams 79), Jules, Hungbo (Green 61), Odoffin.

Subs unused- Dawson, Hugill, MacDonald, McCart.

Stockport Countyline up:-

 Hinchliffe, Knoyle (Southam-Hales 71), Touray, Horsfall (Hughes 71), Pye, Connolly, Wootton, Barry (Collar 71), Norwood, Bailey. Olaofe (Diamond 46),

Subs unused- Addai, Mingi, Rydel.

 

Attendance: 1094 ( 2068)

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