A warm Saturday afternoon in Rotherham, what could possibly go wrong?

Warne’s stubbornness

Warne likes to play the 3-5-2 system and steadfastly refuses to change it even when his team is getting battered as was the case This weekend. When something is clearly not working a change needs to be made, whether that is to the personnel on the pitch or the system, but adjusting both might be the best way to go.

Wing-backs are very ineffective when they can’t/won’t defend

We had Kieran Sadlier & Chieo Ogbene on the flanks v Fleetwood, both fine attacking players but not known for their defensive work.

Wes Harding, a full-back by trade & reputation was playing on the left of three CBs & had the proverbial mare, being pulled out of position time & again by Camps & co. The modern wing-back needs to be a Swiss army knife, able to do all things, including opening those little tins that are so frustrating – ok perhaps not that – but they do need to be able to defend and attack in equal measure. The Millers didn’t get that balance right against Fleetwood, to their detriment.

There HAS to be a Plan B

I know 4-4-2 hasn’t been in vogue for a while now if PW reverted to a back four, played Harding at right-back where he belongs, play either Ferguson or Mattock at left-back that gives the aforementioned Sadlier & Ogbene license to do what they’re good at. If they can get further forward with a solid full-back behind them, this could be another option for Warne to try and having a plan B in League One this season could make all the difference.

Time for a rest Freddie?

With Grigg’s arrival, it puts pressure on underperforming strikers & Ladapo certainly fitted that bill. Largely anonymous today, he had chances late on but was kept out by decent Cairns saves. Now might be the time to give him a rest and let others take their chance, whether it’s starting Grigg from the off or allowing Joshua Kayode to build on an impressive spell at Carlisle, sometimes a different option yields different results.

Fleetwood are really rather good

Just about a perfect away performance from Grayson’s men, soaked up the early expected Millers pressure and looked increasingly dangerous on the break with the exceptional Camps playing the quarterback role, directing operations from CM. They had setbacks when Smith equalised with a clever, well-placed, header and fell behind when Camps hurled Ogbene down in full flight, Sadlier converting the penalty.

The Cod Army became dominant in the early part of the second half when Garner sprung the offside trap and finished confidently past Johannsen. A free-kick just outside the box was expertly converted by defender Danny Andrew to give the visitors the lead and the comeback was completed by MOM Camps with a rebound after the excellent Morton’s initial effort was parried by the Millers keeper.

Fleetwood had initially led when Camps easily robbed the disappointing Harding & fed Morton who produced an unerring finish to give the visitors the lead and despite conceding twice, were thoroughly deserving of the three points. It’s now three unbeaten for the Cods, it will be interesting to see if they can get on a roll and climb the table now.

words Ian Bradley, D3D4 Millers writer