Alfie Wins Game for Millers

Rotherham United striker Adam Le Fondre bundled the ball over the line to give the Millers a hard fought one-nil win at Burton this afternoon.

The first half was a scrappy affair although a neat one-two between Tom Pope and Kevin Ellison on five minutes found Le Fondre in space but the striker curled the ball just wide of Artur Krysiak's goal. Soon after Nicky Law found Tom Pope in the penalty area but his header went wide. The home sides first chance was on twenty minutes when Shaun Harrad had a shot that was easily saved by Andy Warrington. Just after the half-hour mark, the Brewers got an indirect free kick on the edge of the box which Harrad took and hit it straight at the Millers' wall. The rebound fell to Paul Boertien whose shot went well over the bar. Burton should have gone in front five minutes from the interval when a quick free kick found Steve Kabba in space in the penalty area. His shot was well saved by Warrington but the ball fell onto the head of Tom Parkes who, with a gaping goal, somehow managed to nod the ball wide from six yards out.

The start of the second half saw the start of the rain and also the start of some clever passing by the visitors and on fifty-two minutes they went ahead. A long ball forward from 'keeper Andy Warrington wasn't cleared by Albion and Le Fondre pounced on the bouncing ball to, somehow, scramble the ball over the line. Minutes later, it could have been two when new boy, Josh Walker, signed today from Middlesbrough, volleyed a cross by Le Fondre towards goal only to see Krysiak make a good save, putting it out for a corner. From the resulting corner, Le Fondre saw his header hit the post and, as the Millers took charge of the game, Nick Fenton had a header well saved on the line. With fifteen minutes to go Le Fondre again came close to scoring but Krysiak made a good save with his legs. The Millers thought they should have had a penalty when Marcus Marshall, on for Pope, who had once again run his socks off, got behind the home defence and seemed to be brought down in the area by Krysiak but the referee waved play on and Nicky Law got in a good cross for Le Fondre but his shot went into the side netting. The home side suddenly started to get back into the game but as they pushed further and further forward they nearly came unstuck when Kevin Ellison caught them on the counter after a brilliant ball from Walker found him through on goal but the Polish shot stopper tipped the ball wide.

After a scrappy first half the Millers seemed to come to life in the second after the goal - much better than Monday night.

Onwards and Upwards now....

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