Roots Hall Misery for Millers

Rotherham United lost to a goal in the first five minutes by the Southend United manager`s son at a sunny Roots Hall this afternoon.

After over two hundred Millers fans had made the effort to get to Southend this afternoon it would have been nice if the team had bothered to do the same in what was one, if not, the worse display this season. Adam Le Fondre volleyed over after getting the ball via Ryan Taylor's head from a long throw from Exodus Geohaghon a minute before a Tom Newey slip saw Josh Simpson get the ball and pass it over to Blair Sturrock who chested it down and slotted it into the top corner. After new loanee Mark Randall had been clobbered by a Southend defender in the penalty area, the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, which Nicky Law took and curled it went just over the bar. Soon afterwards Randall had to go off and was replaced by Danny Harrison. A Law corner on the half hour mark found Geohaghon but he headed over while moments later a left footed shot from Sturrock went just wide of Andy Warrington's goal and Anthony Grant also saw a shot go wide. The Millers only real chance of the game came ten minutes before half-time when Law ran down the right flank and put in a good cross to Kevin Ellison who seemed to get the ball under his feet and his shot was saved well by Glenn Morris. The Shrimpers could have made it two in the final stages of the half when a Sturrock and Jason Taylor both went for the ball and Taylor hit it against his own crossbar with the rebound falling to Barry Corr who seemed to scuff his shot under pressure.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Southend should have doubled their lead when a cross from Ryan Hall was met by the head of Corr but, under pressure from Nick Fenton, he headed wide. Minutes later Bilel Mohsni nodded past the post before Hall and Grant also saw shots go wide. Marcus Marshall came on for Ellison but it was probably too late for the gangling former Blackburn winger to impose himself on a game which was getting further and further away from the Millers every minute that was played. Corr was allowed to roam free and on the eightieth minute he had a strong shot on goal that brought out a great one-handed save from Warrington. Tom Pope was introduced in the final minutes of the game which did neither him or the team any good with Southend keeping their lead to get all three points.

Two poor teams, an inept referee, I understand poor pies, out played, but never out sung

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