Millers Net Points Against Shrimpers

Rotherham United went to Roots Hall last night and 'battered` the Shrimpers with some good football and some equally good defending.

Coming out battling the Millers showed their intentions as early as two minutes when the ball fell to Alex Revell but his shot went straight to Southend 'keeper, Glenn Morris. At the other end, Liam Dickinson, a recent target for the Millers, shot well wide from the edge of the box while Rhys Taylor, in the visitors` goal, brought off a great save from a Ryan Hall powerful header. On nine minutes, a mix-up in the home sides defence allowed the ball to fall to debutant Shaun Harrad who didn`t hesitate and hammered the ball into the back of the net to send the one hundred and twenty-three travelling Millers fans into raptures. A minute later the Shrimpers were awarded a corner which found the head of Elliot Benyon and looked to come off a Millers shirt and go into the back of the net. But the 'football gods` must have been with the visitors as the linesman flagged for off-side and the goal was disallowed. This seemed to spur Southend on and three minutes later a Peter Gilbert cross found Dickinson but his header went just wide and Rhys Taylor did well to stop a strike from Hall going over the line with his legs. A cross from Kieron Cadogan found Harrad at the other end but the loanee`s header was an easy save for Morris. On the half-hour mark the home side should have equalised when a corner was floated in towards Benyon with Sam Wood coming to the Millers rescue and clearing off the line to safety. On the stroke of half-time Wood found himself in space and let fly towards goal which stung the hands of Morris who managed to hang onto the ball at the second attempt.

As the teams came out for the second half Frenchman, Bilel Mohsni, who for some reason (could have been the booing every time he fell over, which was often) had taken a dislike to the Millers following and had been spitting in our direction throughout the first half, came over to the away end and began an argument which, only the intervention of some good stewarding probably diffused the situation quickly - although every time he was near us he pulled his tongue out at us! Four minutes into the half a long free-kick from Hall found the tall centre-back who rose above everyone else but his header was easily saved by Rhys Taylor. Anthony Grant had two chances to equalise, the first he skied high and the second was a dipping strike from distance that Taylor did well to hold onto. Just after the hour mark, Lewis Grabban replaced Cadogan for the Millers and a good centre from Scott Griffiths found the striker but his shot was blocked by Michael Timlin and two minutes later Grabban sent a cross into the box but it was cleared by Chris Barker. At the other end David Martin tried his luck but Richard Naylor put the ball behind and from the resulting corner Mohsni`s header when just wide. Grabban had another chance to further the Millers` lead but his shot was too tame and rolled harmlessly wide while a corner-kick from the striker to the near post was cleared by Neil Harris with Alex Revell steaming in. With twelve minutes to go Grabban had a shot that went just over the bar while Morris made a good save from Revell. A shot from Mark Bradley was cleared by Mohsni but the Millers made sure of all three points on the eighty-third minute when Revell skipped past two challenges and fired the ball at goal from outside the area and saw his shot cannon off the inside of the post and into the back of the net. That was enough to give all three points to the visitors and send the Millers fans back on their long journey home happy and singing.

I bet that Southend are really pleased they made such a big effort to get this game on!

Difficult - for the good reasons. I don't think anyone had a poor game. Alex Revell was a threat and Shaun Harrad had a good first start scoring on his debut. Scott Griffiths did well too. but I think I will give the Star Player to RHYS TAYLOR

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