April 5th in Millers history

A slight advantage to The Millers on April 5th down the years, as we have won 6 and drawn 3 from 14 games.
Last time out however was a defeat and what a crucial one it was too.
On April 5th 2005 Rotherham's 4 year stay at the second level of English Football came to an end at Ipswich Town, but the gallant Millers certainly went down fighting against a team who finished the day in second place.
An Ian Westlake header and a toe-poked goal from Darren Bent gave the clear favourites to win a 2-0 advantage on 6 and 25 minutes respectively, however The Millers responded immediately and Tony Thorpe on-loan from QPR brought Rotherham back into the game on 26.
The Millers went into the interval just 2-1 down, but by the hour mark we were 3 goals adrift.
Darren Bent scored his second on 57 and 3 minutes later veteran Jim Magilton made it 4-1 to the hosts.
Still Rotherham weren't beaten and goals from Martin Butler (67) and Martin McIntosh (79) made for a very hectic last few minutes.
The game finished 4-3 and Rotherham were looking at a return to League 2, but the fight the Millers put up was made clear when Man of the Match, Rotherham's Jamal Campbell-Ryce was substituted and brought a standing ovation from every side of the ground.

The previous game on this date took place in 2003, and involved a goal-less draw at Molineux, home of Wolves, but the game certainly wasn't without incident.
Wolves striker Nathan Blake was sent off after just 14 minutes for a clear elbow on Millers defender Shaun Barker.
But as always seems to happen, a team down to 10 men always raise their game.
Goalkeeper Mike Pollitt was outstanding and made several crucial saves, but none more crucial than after 88 minutes.
Millers midfielder Stewart Talbot upended Dean Sturridge in the box and all Pollitt's hard work looked like it may go unrewarded.
However Pollitt saved Colin Cameron's resulting penalty and The Millers came away with a much deserved point.

Rotherham's last win on April 5th came in 1999 when a Leo Fortune-West goal on 51 minutes was the only difference between the sides, this result kept us in 5th place and the Play-offs beckoned.

An outstanding win was achieved on April 5th 1991 as Rotherham, sitting on bottom of Division 3 were away at high flying Tranmere on a Friday night.
Johnny Morrissey gave Tranmere an expected first half lead, but Striker John Pearson on-loan from Leeds United scored 2 second half goals to give The Millers all 3 points and take Pearson's tally to 4 goals in 3 games since his move.

Finally, a 3-2 win over rock bottom Scunthorpe lifted Rotherham into 3rd place in Division 4 on this day in 1975.
Dick Habbin, Tommy Spencer and Trevor Womble hit the net for the Millers.


1926 D3N Walsall A L 1-4
1930 D3N Nelson A W 1-0
1947 D3N Halifax Town A W 3-2
1952 DIV2 Notts. County A W 3-0
1958 DIV2 Blackburn Rovers A L 0-5
1969 DIV3 Southport A D 0-0
1975 DIV4 Scunthorpe United H W 3-2
1980 DIV3 Bury A L 0-1
1991 DIV3 Tranmere Rovers A W 2-1
1994 LD2 Bournemouth A D 0-0
1997 LD2 Luton Town H L 0-3
1999 LD3 Swansea City H W 1-0
2003 LD1 Wolverhampton Wanderers A D 0-0
2005 CHMP Ipswich Town A L 3-4


Played 14,
Won 6,
Drawn 3,
Lost 5,
For 17,
Against 22

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