Impressive Atsu grinds Millers into submission
NEWCASTLE needed only a Christian Atsu strike to earn a narrow victory over Rotherham in South Yorkshire.
The Ghanaian struck the first- half winner to ensure Newcastle kept their place in the top two and keep Rotherham rooted to the bottom of the table.
Newcastle’s Yoan Gouffran had two early shots on goal, with one blocked and the other straight at Lee Camp in a frantic start.
Rotherham then had defender Dominic Ball to thank after he somehow stopped Gouffran’s volley from crossing the line with his chest.
The next chance fell the way of the home side with Greg Halford, only playing due to an injury in the warm-up to Joe Mattock, supplying a long throw into the box which fell kindly to Joe Newell whose shot was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Jon Taylor was to come even closer when his effort clipped the crossbar from 25 yards out.
Rotherham continued to enjoy a good spell with Tom Adeyemi and Halford having shots. Newcastle,
though, were to take advantage of the misfiring Millers and it was they who went in at the break ahead with Atsu blasting in a great individual effort after 41 minutes.
The winger cut in from the right and curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.
The visitors came close to extending their lead, but Dwight Gayle could not get enough of a touch on Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick.
Atsu then burst through from Mohamed Diame’s pass, but his shot was pushed away by Camp. From the resulting corner, Shelvey ballooned an effort over the bar. Atsu continued to
look threatening when he cut a ball back for Diame, but his shot from closerange was diverted behind.
Newcastle pressed for a decisive second, with Matt Ritchie coming on for Atsu and Shelvey forcing a save from Camp with a low shot.
Rotherham brought on Dexter Blackstock in a bid to get a leveller, but Newcastle had the next opportunity with Ciaran Clark heading narrowly wide from a corner.
The home side were to have chances to score in the final five minutes with Ball’s effort cannoning off the woodwork and then sub Will Vaulks having his header cleared off the line by Clark.