Happy new year

Rotherham v Blackburn, New York Stadium, Mon 1st Jan 2018, 1-1

After all the excesses of the night before, an afternoon at the football is excellent for blowing away the cobwebs and soothing thick heads. So Ian and I accompanied Vicky in her quest to attain the above. 

The night before

We arrived to find Keith in place, but  worryingly, no OMOTE. Hopefully just because Mrs OMOTE required his presence at the New Year’s Day dinner. The row behind were also absent. Wooly, Rob Berry, and John did turn up to give us some warmth from the left thankfully. Blackburn were among the league leaders so we expected a difficult game. With the transfer window open  Mick McCarthy had recalled Moore with a view to selling him on to another club for big bucks, although Warne had apparently put an offer in, so DaBall And Yates continued up front. Frecks was absent (rumoured move to Lincoln) with Vaulkes back to midfield and wood in at the back. Blackburn were the latest team to field a returning hero in the form of Ritchie Smallwood. Scorer of the winning penalty in the Wembley shoot out. 

Ritchie in happier times

A good number of Blackburn fans had crossed the pennines for the match

It was an excellent game with chances at both ends. In the first half a miraculous Marek Rodak triple save kept the score at 0-0, and it stayed that way till the break. The second half continued to be end to end, until a good Blackburn move saw Dack finish well and give them the lead. But this Rotherham team is developing the fighting spirit of old and we felt that we could get back in the game, something that would never have happened last season. Warne subbed on Newell And Clarke-Harris, and with five mins to go went all in by throwing Semi forward as a third striker. We forced a succession of corners and you just felt that a goal was coming. On 89 minutes a Forde corner was flicked on to find a lurking DaBall at the back post. 1-1

A great comeback against a top team, and another goal for DaBall. Who needs Keiffer Moore?

Next up Oldham away

Man of the match

Ian - Semi

Jackie - DaBall

Vicky - Semi

Footnote

Having coaxed and nurtured Keiffer Moore from a donkey to the top scorer in all England, we lost out to Barnsley (again!) in the race for his signature.