NEW YORK FAIRYTALE FOR PAUL
THE Rotherham juggernaut shows no sign of stopping after they scored two goals in injury-time at the New York Stadium to beat local rivals Doncaster in “Disney style” and notch a seventh successive win.
The Millers have not been beaten since December 2 – now a run of 14 games – and they have propelled themselves into play-off contention.
They looked in danger of losing this one after John Marquis put Rovers ahead before half-time but they made the most of 13 minutes of injury-time as Michael Smith equalised and then Joe Newell scored with a penalty in what was the last kick of the game.
And boss Paul Warne felt the win was something out of a Disney film
Warne said: “I’m a romantic, I just think that epitomised the team, the way we keep going until the end. The run continues and we are really proud.
“I was thinking before the penalty that if it went in it would be like Walt Disney stuff and if it didn’t go in we’d have still had a point.
“The fact that we scored in the last minute is really special, it has been a really good day at the office.
“I don’t think my lads were as composed on the ball in the first half, and I thought second half we created enough and did enough to get a draw, if not a win.
“What I think we’re good at is getting balls into the box and being an attacking outlet, in the first half the lads went away from that.
“I am sitting here after a win so I can’t complain too much.”
Their unbeaten run looked under severe threat after a shocking defensive error from Semi Ajayi, who was dispossessed on the edge of the area, allowed Marquis to slam home from the edge of the area.
But the Millers had scored in every one of their previous 26 games and this one was no different, even if they did have to wait until 13 minutes of added time.
Smith headed home Newell’s free-kick in the second of those and 11 minutes later Newell converted from the spot after Doncaster goalkeeper Marko Marosi felled Smith.
Rovers boss Darren Ferguson was broken after the game.
“It’s a hard one to take, my players didn’t deserve that after the effort they put in,” he said. “In the first half, they didn’t cause us any problems. “As soon as that board went up with 12 minutes on I knew it would give them a lift. The first goal is a blatant foul on my centre-half and he’s not seen it. “In the main we dealt with them fine. It’s a real sore one for us, for everyone, for the fans. It’s disappointing.” The result leaves Rotherham fourth in the table but six points off the automatic promotion spots, while Rovers are 14th.
ROTHERHAM: (4-4-2): Rodak 6, Emmanuel 6, Ajayi 5, Wood 6 (Palmer 90), Mattock 6, Forde 6 (Williams 79 6), Vaulks 6, Towell 7, Newell 8, Ball 5 (Lavery 83 6), Smith 5 Subs not used: Price, Taylor, Yates, Cummings. DONCASTER: (4-4-2): Marosi 6, Alcock 7, Boyle 7, Anderson 7 (Wright 56), Mason 6, Beestin 6 (Blair 79 5), Whiteman 6, Coppinger 6 (Houghton 90 N/A), Rowe 6, Marquis 7, Kiwomya 6 Subs not used: Lawlor, Baudry, Kongolo, Blair, May.