Millers bag late win: Shrewsbury 1-2 Rotherham MATCH REPORT

Millers leave it late at the New Meadow

Rotherham United jolted themselves out of a patchy run of form on Boxing Day, coming away from Shrewsbury’s New Meadow with an impressive 2-1 victory. The last gasp nature of the triumph shouldn’t disguise the dominance that Paul Warne’s side enjoyed as they move back into the play-off zone. Shrewsbury meanwhile will simply want to write the game off as a bad job and move on.

Help support D3D4 by becoming a patron

Over the years Salop have a good record against the Millers, winning more (28) than they’ve lost (23). Town’s form in recent games between the sides nonetheless belies that; defeat in the 2018 League One play-off final plus just one win in the last seven since 2013 shows Rotherham have generally had much the better of recent encounters.

Salop manager Sam Ricketts appeared to have that in mind when he set his side up to batten down the hatches during a goalless draw at the New York Stadium back in September. Ricketts was a little more adventurous in the way his side approached the Boxing Day encounter, but in truth that helped Salop little. Rotherham were bigger, stronger and faster, and ultimately well worth the three points.

Land of the Giants

Shrewsbury’s modus operandi this season has been built around being solid at the back. Three of Omar Beckles, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Aaron Pierre and Ro-Shaun Williams come together to make life very difficult for opposing sides to gain any traction in the final third. That solidity has led to the league’s third best defensive record (just 22 goals conceded in 21 games).

Callum Lang’s injury back in September has ensured that the issues for Salop have come at the other end. 20 league goals and no less than 5 goalless draws consequently explain why Shrewsbury are mid-table rather than higher.

Rotherham are the only side all season that have clearly won the physical fight against Ricketts’ men. Indeed, both penalty boxes were like land of the giants at set-pieces as the likes of Carlton Morris, Freddie Ladapo and Michael Ihiekwe went toe-to-toe with Salop’s team of six-footers.

That having been said, former Northampton player Matt Crooks purred nicely in midfield, linking play nicely. Much that was good for the visitors either went through him or directly up to Carlton Morris. Morris, a spearhead of Shrewsbury’s impressive 2017-18 campaign, was a permanent thorn in the hosts’ side and direct though much of the play up to him was, he doesn’t just leap like a salmon he’s got a decent touch that enables others to get up and around him.

Smith to the Rescue

It subsequently came as little surprise when Rotherham took the lead. It also came as no shock that the goal came from a set-piece. Daniel Barlaser delivered a battery of decent corners throughout the game, but it wasn’t until the hour mark that Michael Ihiekwe nodded one back across goal for left-back Joe Mattock to bundle in.

Shrewsbury, to the credit, then temporarily awoke from their slumber and Aaron Pierre quickly nodded them level following some excellent work on the left by Scott Golbourne. From then on in the game was in the balance; Omar Beckles fired over for Salop, whilst Daniel Iversen pulled off a sharp save to deny the lively Ryan Giles. At the other end, Freddie Ladapo went close whilst a series of less guilt-edged chances came and went.

Ultimately, substitute Michael Smith, another member of the six-foot-plus brigade, came up with the game’s decisive moment, bundling home – in the 97^th minute – from five yards following an excellent Adam Thompson cross. Cue bedlam in the away end and cue Rotherham jumping up to a very healthy fifth in the table. 

More Pantomime Dame than Brad Pitt

Shrewsbury will be wondering want went wrong. Their showing went from dismal to poor before improving to below average. Odd for a side that won at Blackpool last week and beat Coventry at home the week before.

For the Town fans hoping for a promotion charge, 2019-20 has a rather nice parallel to the local pantomime that’s on at the Theatre Severn. Back in September rumours went around that Brad Pitt was going to be starring in this year’s feast (Aladdin, for the record). Let’s just say that Hollywood’s finest is not wintering in Shropshire’s county town.  A local comedian by the name of Brad Fitt, is, however, the star turn, and by all accounts, he’s doing an excellent job as the requisite bloke in a frock.

In recent weeks Salop have looked decent and there’s been talk of the promotion charge being more Brad Pitt than Brad Fitt.  In reality, it’s much more the latter than the former; 11^th would be Salop’s second-highest league finish in 20 years. And, they’d be decent value for it. But Brad Pitt (aka, say, Ipswich Town)? Erm, no, not quite.

words Dan Hough, Shrewsbury Town fan