WONDER WOOD TAMES SHREWS
As far as Wembley debuts go, richard Wood pretty much nailed it. Having never before stepped out at the national stadium, the rotherham captain found the ideal occasion to score two goals in a game for the first time in his career.
The defender’s unprecedented contribution at the age of 32 was sufficient to see off shrewsbury after extra time and ensure another first: all three teams relegated from the Championship went back up straight away.
rotherham join Wigan and blackburn in dipping their toe into League one and removing it swiftly. shrewsbury are all too familiar with the deep waters of the lower leagues and it is cruel that they were unable to end their 29-year wait to return to the second tier.
Favourites for relegation at the start of the campaign, Paul Hurst’s side began with a 15- game unbeaten streak, were in the automatic places for many weeks, and finished eight points ahead of rotherham in the table. but having lost here in april’s EFL Trophy final, they again could not do enough on the big stage.
There is a certain irony to the identity of the side that has denied Hurst. He played almost his entire career at rotherham, more than 430 matches, and was for six years a team-mate to Paul Warne, who was in the opposite dugout.
Warne was with rotherham as caretaker manager on their fall last season, thrust reluctantly into the spotlight, so this was personal as well as collective redemption.
‘it was tough last year, i questioned myself no end,’ admitted Warne, 45. ‘it was the chairman who convinced me i had the attributes to be a manager. in the summer i recruited staff and players i wanted and we put a smile on people’s faces.’
a good friend to his defeated counterpart, Warne admitted to mixed emotions. ‘i love Hursty,’ he said. ‘i don’t feel too victorious about it.’
Warne was clearer on his matchwinner, who he calls ‘the wrecking ball’. ‘i looked at his wife when he scored the second and she was in complete shock,’ he said.
Warne’s rolling contract will click on into next year, while Hurst’s future is less clear. ipswich have been heavily linked with the 43-year-old.
‘That’s been happening for quite a bit of the season,’ Hurst said. ‘i can’t stop what people say. at this moment all i’m concerned about is lifting those players who are naturally disappointed. There are tears.’
rotherham were awarded a penalty by referee rob Jones in the eighth minute when omar beckles wrapped his arm round the neck of Wood. but Dean Henderson, the 21-year-old on loan from Manchester United, went the right way and punched David ball’s spot-kick to safety.
The beckles-Wood duel at set pieces continued to be an intriguing battle and in the 33rd minute we discovered why the shrewsbury defender had been paying such close attention. This time beckles stood off, enabling Wood to get a running jump, and when Joe newell’s corner curled above the six-yard box the rotherham player was free to head in.
shrewsbury finally turned up after the break and were level in the 58th minute through an ingenious free- kick routine. With rotherham expecting a high ball into the box, shaun Walley instead went low to Mat sadler, who had peeled away from the scrum. sadler touched the ball on to slip in alex rodman and a poked finish followed.
Henderson was helpless on 103 minutes as the same combination from rotherham’s opening goal struck again. This time newell delivered a deep free-kick and ghosting in round the back was Wood, who steered in a half-volley off the post.