First Loss at NYS for Millers

Rotherham United lost their first game at the New York Stadium by a narrow margin this afternoon when they took on Scottish side Heart of Midlothian.

The Millers were out of the blocks the quicker and Daniel Nardiello came close on five minutes but saw his shot hit the wrong side of the net while Alex Revell, finding himself one-on-one with Hearts 'keeper Jamie McDonald, did get a good shot in but it was jumped on and smothered by the Hearts 'keeper. David Templeton had the first chance for the visitors on fifteen minutes but saw his free-kick deflected for a corner by Kari Arnason and ten minutes later Andy Webster headed just over the bar. Scott Shearer in the Millers goal made a couple of good saves, one with his legs from Callum Patterson but, really, the first half ended as a stalemate which it probably deserved.

In the opening minute of the second half Mark Bradley, who looked lively all game, put a good ball across the face of goal for Alex Revell but he toe poked it instead of hitting it and it didn't go near the net. Two minutes into the half Ryan McGowan turned the Millers defender and seeing John Sutton on his own passed the ball to him and the Norwich born striker tapped it into the back of the empty net. Revell came close to an equaliser just a minute later but saw his header go just over the crossbar with the next real shot towards goal being on seventy minutes which fell to the Jam Tarts when a Ryan McGowen volley went well over Shearer's bar. Lionel Ainsworth (on for Arnason) and latest signing Kieran Agard (on for Nardiello) combined well when the quick winger whipped in a ball for the striker with Agard just failing to connect with it and ten minutes later only a good block from McDonald stopped Agard pulling the trigger and hitting the ball into the net.

With Hearts collecting their third win of their pre-season they are probably the most difficult side the Millers have met yet. A little disappointing for Millers fans with, to me, the home side looking a little jaded today.

Teams

MILLERS

Shearer

Hunt (Mullins)

Bradley

Sharps

Wilson

Noble (Taylor)

Arnason (Ainsworth)

O'Connor (Rose)

Pringle (Evans)

Revell (Odejayi)

Nardiello (Agard)

Subs not used - Warrington

HEARTS

MacDonald

Patterson

Webster

Zaliukas

McHattie (Grainger)

Robinson (Holt)

R McGowen

Barr (D McGowen)

Driver (Novikovas)

Sutton (Carrick)

Templeton (Taouil)

Subs not used - C Pawson

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