Ten Men Millers Beaten At Home

Rotherham United suffered their second defeat of the season at the hands of Dagenham and Redbridge yesterday with their six game unbeaten run coming to an end.

The Millers started the game well with the visitors on the back foot for most of the first half. Michael O'Connor had the first shot on goal from a free-kick just two minutes into the game although the Daggers should have perhaps took the lead fourteen minutes in when Abu Ogogo blazed over the bar with an open goal in front of him. Another O'Connor free-kick went close while Liam Ridehalgh saw an effort deflected away to safety and a Daniel Nardiello shot was blocked by Scott Doe. In the last five minutes of the game O'Connor saw another free-kick hit the post and go to safety and a minute later David Noble sent Lee Frecklington on his way but the midfielders shot was a bit tame and was easily saved by Chris Lewington and he also saved a shot from Noble himself. As the half went into injury time the Millers really should have taken the lead when the busy Frecklington found himself one-on-one with the 'keeper but he hesitated just that second too long giving Lewington time to get down to the shot.

Claude Davis was in action at the start of the second half when he blocked a shot from Josh Scott while at the other end the Daggers defence got into a tangle but O'Connor failed to punish them when he put his shot over the bar. On the hour mark the visitors took a shock lead when a coming together by Kari Arnason and Medy Eito just inside the box was firstly going to be ignored by referee Andy Davies but his linesman was madly waving his flag and after a minute's discussion not only was the penalty given but, as last man, Arnason saw his second red card of the season. Eito took the spot-kick putting the ball under a diving Andy Warrington. Six minutes later the ten men pulled it back to one-all when a Noble corner met the head of Claude Davis and the Jamaican International got his first goal for the Millers. Minutes later Nardiello really should have put the home side in front when he skipped by Doe and fired across goal but the ball went harmlessly wide and minutes later Alex Revell looked to have put the Millers in front but his shot from distance was scrambled away by Lewington. Eight minutes from time Millers hearts were in their mouth when a challenge on Elito by Davis looked like it could be another penalty and another red card. Referee Davies looked and thought but gave a yellow card to Davis and a free-kick on the edge of the box to the visitors which Matt Saunders took and it evaded people in the box eventually falling to Luke Wilkinson who smashed the ball into the back of the net. At the other end Frecklington was hauled down on the edge of the area by Billy Bingham and Pringle's resulting free-kick smashed the crossbar but went to safety. In time added on Nardiello had a shot which went just wide and Gavin Hoyte cleared a Noble free-kick and a minute later Lewington cleared from a Noble corner.

After the hard work put in in the last couple of away games it really is frustrating to see the Millers lose at home - it's as though we are taking one step forward and two steps back. I know we all wanted the three points yesterday but with ten men and at one-one I was thinking maybe, just maybe, we should have held out for the draw and get a point out of the game?

I thought the midfield did well again yesterday and Claude Davis and Johnny Mullins played well at the back but I think because he was here-there-and-everywhere for ninety minutes (and despite that miss!) I will give the Star Player to LEE FRECKLINGTON

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