Rotherham and Bradford bow out of Trophy but it’s new low at Valley Parade
BRADFORD CITY and Rotherham United saw their progress in the EFL’s Leasing. com Trophy come to an abrupt end last night.
The Bantams needed to beat Rochdale by three clear goals to go through to the knockout stages, but they were beaten by 2-1 by League One side Rochdale in their final group match.
Paul Warne’s Rotherham crashed out in the group stage after a 3-0 defeat at Lincoln City.
John Akinde’s quick-fire brace, and Tyler Walker’s late header, sent the Millers out of the competition at Sincil Bank last night.
Victory would have seen Warne’s men qualify in place of local rivals Doncaster Rovers – who went through by just one goal on goal difference after Rotherham’s drubbing.
The match at Valley Parade was watched the club’s lowest attendance for a competitive first-team fixture – a mere 761.
The game marked the welcome return of midfielder Jake Reeves, who has been out of action since January 2018 with a serious groin injury and he played for 62 minutes before leaving the to a generous ovation.
Reeves, captain for the night, set up the goal that gave Bradford the lead in the 15th minute when his free kick was volleyed into the net by Tyler French.
Bradford had a great chance to go further in front in the 22nd minute when Kelvin Mellor was fouled in the box by visiting skipper Aaron Wilbraham, but Aramide Oteh’s penalty was saved by Jay Lynch.
Reeves struck the crossbar with a 20-yard shot two minutes later before Rochdale hit back with two goals in five minutes.
Rekeil Pike equalised with a curling shot into the top in the 30th minute and Fabio Tavares put the visitors ahead five minutes later. Jimmy Ryan played the ball over the top of the Bradford defence for Tavares to score.
The Bantams dominated the second half without being able to breakthrough a strong visitors’ defence although Lynch made superb saves to deny Zeli Ismail and substitute Danny Devine.
At Sincil Bank, the Imps were gifted a penalty in the 12th minute when Matthew Olosunde fouled Tom Pett in the box.
Lewis Price was beaten as Akinde fired the spot kick down the middle.
And the deficit was doubled just two minutes later when Akinde latched onto Jorge Grant’s through ball to fire home via a deflection.
Millers’ striker Michael Smith saw his header denied by namesake Grant in the hosts’ net.
It was like deja vu 10 minutes before the break with a Smith header was again kept out by the Imps’ stopper.
Price could only parry Harry Anderson’s cross into the path of Grant, but the veteran keeper made amends with a top closerange stop.
Record signing Freddie Lapado fizzed an effort wide from just outside of the box.
The Imps had chances to put the game beyond doubt, but substitute Jake Hesketh and Jack Payne both failed to test Price.
Daniel Barlaser had Smith scrambling across his line, before Price kept out Grant down the other end.
With eight minutes left Price pulled off a decent save to keep Payne’s strike out.
Substitute Walker added salt to the wounds when he nodded home Grant’s free-kick with three minutes left.
Price kept out Hesketh to deny Lincoln qualification, before Lapado was denied a late Millers goal.
■ The English Football League has opened a formal investigation into Macclesfield’s failure to pay players.
The Silkmen fielded six
youth players and five loanees in Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Kingstonian as the first team went on strike over unpaid salaries.
Wednesday’s Leasing.com Trophy game at Shrewsbury is due to go ahead after the club gave the EFL assurances.
Macclesfield are 15th in Sky Bet League Two and have until 4pm on Wednesday to satisfy the EFL’s request for information.
761
The lowest attendance for a competitive first-team fixture at Bradford City, for last night’s game with Rochdale.