Millers Ground-Down by King Arthur.
Morecambe travelled over the Pennines today to visit the New York stadium in the post-industrial town of old Rotherham. United have started their Championship campaign brightly, having been promoted just a few short months ago. They are unbeaten in all competitions so far and were comfortably twelfth in the Division prior to kick-off tonight. As far as their visitors are concerned, United have played Morecambe no less then seventeen times in the past. They have won eight of these and lost five. Last season, Rotherham enjoyed a double over the Shrimps in League One. In the return fixture, Goalkeeping Coach and club legend Barry Roche took temporary charge of the team following Stephen Robinson’s abrupt departure to Pastures New at St Mirren the previous day. Perhaps of greatest relevance to tonight’s match, though, was the final score in the only time the clubs have faced each other before in a League Cup match. In an extraordinary game at Millmoor just over six years ago, Morecambe emerged victorious after having scored the vital fifth goal out of nine on the night.
Charismatic Millers’ Manager Paul Warne had this to say before the game:
“We will make changes, but we are still going to pick a team that gives us the best chance of winning. We want to get through and continue our good start, but we are aware we have a game at the weekend, but we will give everything to get into the next round.”
This week, Mr Warne has persuaded Arsenal to loan him exciting young prospect Brooke Norton-Cuffy for the rest of the season. The eighteen-year-old went straight into the first team tonight for a baptism of fire as a Miller. Alongside him was Tom Eaves, who was also making his debut after signing from Hull earlier in the week. Many of the players normally sitting on the bench for Rotherham were given a starting place in tonight’s squad as well. In all, there were nine changes from the starting eleven which drew at Queens Park Rangers three days ago.
For the Shrimps, Derek Adams also changed things around quite a bit. His first eleven was also markedly different from last Saturday with no room anywhere in the squad for Cole Stockton, whose status at the club continues to be a matter of intense speculation. Derek told us that Cole wasn’t playing because of a groin injury but the Goal Machine has made it clear that he is currently seeking Pastures New in which to plough his own furrow up front. There were places for several Academy players as well on the visitors’ bench tonight.
The Boss expressed his hopes that these players would be able to push the club over the line tonight and into the third round of this competition:
“Morecambe is a Club that is evolving (by) going through the leagues like we have done; the fixtures that we have played in this competition and in the FA Cup. It is about getting through to the next round and creating a bit of history. If we can do that, it gives us a chance to play against some of the top sides in England. That is what we want to do. The next round is in November, so we have a bit of time to wait until then.”
As far as tonight’s opponents specifically are concerned, he added:
“We will go there, get on the front-foot and defend as well as we have done. They are a very good side, they are in the Championship and they are on a good unbeaten run. They will change a good number of their squad to give others game time, like they did against Port Vale in the round before. We will assess them. We will go there with the team spirit and the attitude that we had on Saturday. That will give us the opportunity to progress to the next round.”
It was cloudy but dry before and during the game tonight. Morecambe kicked-off and started quite well, taking the game to the hosts during the opening five minutes or so and pressing high up the pitch as they did so. United created the first good chance of the game after eight minutes, though. Scott High fed Cohen Bramall to gallop up the Millers’ left and play a dangerous ball into the Shrimps’ penalty area. Georgie Kelly, however, was just unable to make contact with it. A minute later, United’s Jamie McCart booted Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s cushioned header way over the away goal with a wild shot. At the other end, Liam Gibson and Dylan Connolly combined well to set-up a half-chance for the visitors after thirteen minutes. But the cross towards the far post was just too high for an onrushing Donald Love to connect with. Jensen Weir then lost possession in the middle of the field with 22 minutes on the clock, which allowed the Millers to pour forward only for Jamie Lindsay to smash the ball past Connor Ripley into the side netting. But the impressive Gibson came even closer three minutes later after controlling the ball well just outside the area and sending a powerful strike just over the bar. After a nice spell of controlled possession by the Shrimps, Jake Taylor tried a very optimistic shot from all of 30 yards out which also sailed over the bar with almost half an hour played. There were a lot of mistakes and some scrappy play for a while after this and neither goalkeeper was seriously tested by the time the break arrived.
There were many positives from King Derek’s men though: at the back, they looked solid and well-organised. Gibbo played a blinder throughout the half with both Ryan Delaney and Jacob Bedeau looking rock solid at the back. The only concern – yet again – was going forward where there was little penetration and very few actual chances so far.
Rotherham forced a couple of corners which came to nothing early doors in the second period. As the home team continued to ask most of the questions, Ollie Rathbone smashed a powerful shot over the bar after 55 minutes. Then Arthur Gnahoua combined well with Weir three minutes later to force a corner which eventually fell to Bedeau, who couldn’t quite get his shot on target. Both Managers shook things up after just over an hour, with multiple substitutions for both sides. One of these replacements – Caleb Watts – showed his pace in the sixty-seventh minute but his eventual cross into the danger area was easily cleared by the home defence. When he pinched the ball from Lindsey in the seventy-second minute, however, he was instrumental in setting-up King Arthur to double his return for the campaign with another wonder strike. Gnahoua’s finish was almost as good as the fantastic volley he scored in a League One game against Fleetwood at the Maz ten days ago. He rode a challenge in the away penalty area before smashing the ball through the arms of Josh Vickers from an acute angle with a howitzer of a strike.
With many of their regular first-teamers on the pitch now, United started to look for a response. But a couple of wayward headers, shots from distance and the occasional corner kick was all they had to show for it by the end of the game. They had a half-hearted shout for a penalty right at the death but Referee Peter Wright was not impressed. In truth, during the entire ninety minutes, Connor Ripley didn’t have a serious save to make. So Morecambe ended the game with a second Championship scalp in a row after what had been a classic Derek Adams performance tonight: tight and well-organised at the back but eventually lethal up-front.
The great man himself had this to say after the match:
“To come away to a Championship team and win; to have limited them to very few opportunities on target with the strike force they had; with the team they had playing; was very pleasing. I thought the whole group we had here tonight – we had fourteen players here tonight that worked extremely hard. We’re delighted for them. The team spirit is excellent. We’ve got a bit of illness in the squad and injuries – that’s the reason for all the other ones that weren’t here tonight. The way the players have taken to changes in systems as well has been important. I think their togetherness; their understanding of the game has been very good in and out of possession. The work-rate throughout the team had to be perfect tonight because we were playing against a very good side. What we’ve got is we’ve taken-in a group of players which understand each other; understand systems of play but have got a willingness to win football matches or defend their area.”
Asked if he was hoping for a Big Fish in the upcoming Third Round, he replied:
“If we can land a big team, then that would be advantageous for me going into the last week of the transfer window. We will certainly be able to strengthen the squad if we do get a big team.”
I had problems putting a link to my match report on the Oxford United game last Saturday on both Shrimpsvoices and Facebook. If you would like to read it, this is the link:
Rotherham United: 31 Josh Vickers; 2 Wes Harding; 3 Cohen Bramall (17 Shane Ferguson 62’); 5 Jamie McCart; 7 Scott High; 9 Tom Eaves (19 Joshua Kayode 62’); 10 Brooke Norton-Cuff (11 Chiedozie Ogbene 62’); 12 Georgie Kelly; 16 Jamie Lindsay (22 Hakeem Odoffin 79’); 18 Oliver Rathbone (4 Daniel Barlaser 62’); 21 Lee Peltier (C).
Subs not used: 1 Viktor Johansson; 8 Ben Wiles; 15 Tolaji Bola; 24 Cameron Humphreys.
Morecambe: 1 Connor Ripley; 2 Donald Love (C); 4 Liam Gibson (18 Shane McLoughlin 80’); 5 Farrend Rawson; 6 Ryan Delaney; 7 Jake Taylor (22 Anthony O’Connor 65’); 8 Ousmane Fané; 11 Dylan Connolly; 15 Jensen Weir (17 Caleb Watts 65’); 16 Jacob Bedeau; 14 Arthur Gnahoua.
Subs not used: 12 Adam Smith; 13 André da Silva Mendes; 25 Adam Major; 26 Cameron Rooney; 27 Mani Davidson; 28 Daniel Foden
Ref: Peter Wright.
Att: 3,808 (172 from Morecambe)
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