Rovers stuttered into 2024, as the fragilities of their recent run continued into the New Year, as Rotherham United’s direct approach paid dividends as the relegation-threatened side earnt themselves their first league away point since a goalless draw at Birmingham City at the start of December.
With Rovers coming to the end of their hectic festive fixture list, now moving into weekly fixtures, Jon Dahl Tomasson made three changes – with one being enforced – as Rovers looked for their first win since beating Bristol City, 2-1, towards the start of last month. After the Blues’ 3-2 defeat to Hull City rounded off 2023, the suspended Dom Hyam was replaced by the returning Hayden Carter, whilst Adam Wharton and Andrew Moran came into midfield, as Jake Garrett and Dilan Markanday dropped to the bench.
As Rovers debuted their snazzy new orange training wear, prior to Rotherham getting the game underway at kick-off, a period of applause was pleasantly respected by both sets of players, staff and supporters as Rovers paid tribute to all fans who had sadly passed away throughout 2023.
As Rovers dominated the opening eight minutes of the game with a lot of the ball flashing across the Rotherham box with no real threat at Viktor Johansson’s goal, an early breakthrough did materialise for Rovers as Arnór Sigurðsson opened the Blues’ account for the calendar year with a fantastic off-balanced finish. Adam Wharton picked the ball up on the half-turn inside the final-third and slid in Sammie Szmodics whose shot was deflected into the path of the Icelandic international. The stumbling Sigurðsson showed his quality to keep his composure and poke the ball past the on-rushing Swede in the Rotherham goal for 1-0.
The early Rovers pressure continued into the 11th minute, when a corner made it’s way out to Harry Pickering who looked to add to his birthday goal last time out with a second to double Rovers’ advantage, but the full-back’s powerful low drive from outside the area was tipped behind by Johansson.
Six minutes later, Szmodics thought he’d grabbed his 16th of the season after he was sent in-behind the Millers’ backline, but the flag of the assistant cancelled out the skipper’s finish.
Rotherham had their first foray forwards in the 18th minute when they won a corner on the right-hand side. Sam Clucas sent in a wicked back-post delivery that saw some pinball, before a sensational goalline clearance from Hayden Carter kept the score in the home side’s favour.
With 20 minutes gone, the Millers were continuing their pressure as their barrage of set-pieces continued with Sean Morrison finding Tom Eaves with a long throw, but Leopold Wahlstedt was able to simply gather the ball.
Moments later, Rovers and the home crowd were baffled as to how their lead had not doubled as Sigurðsson saw his effort somehow denied by a fantastic block by Morrison before he made it a double save by denying Semir Telalović who kept his drive low to his own detriment.
Callum Brittain was causing havoc down the right in the 26th minute as he first forced Johansson into a save as he stretched every fibre of his body to keep the deficit to one goal, before the full-back nearly provided Szmodics with an assist, but the league’s top scorer couldn’t touch the ball home.
All of those chances soon eventually came back to haunt Rovers as Rotherham managed to equalise in the softest of fashions, with Sean Morrison nodding home a corner, unchallenged, in the 31st minute. Sam Clucas’ delivery towards the near-post looked perfect for Wahlstedt to claim, but the goalkeeper missed the cross as the ball almost bounced off the former Cardiff City defender’s head and nestled into the bottom right-hand corner of the net for 1-1.
In the 35th minute, Rovers looked to try and regain the lead as Wharton found Szmodics but the Millers’ Man of the Match, Johansson made a fine save to prevent his side from going behind again.
On the stroke of half-time, the Rotherham goalscorer, Morrison, was booked for bringing down Telalović.
As two minutes of time were added onto the end of the first period, the half’s final act saw Ollie Rathbone try his luck from range as he tried to catch Wahlstedt out from range, but the Blackburn-born midfielder’s shot came back off the bar and the back of the home goalkeeper before Rovers cleared, as the half-time whistle soon came.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been frustrated at his side’s poor defending at the set-piece, during the break. Despite that, he would have praised them for their attacking movement which had been free-flowing, particularly during the opening phases and after the opening goal. He would have also urged them to stick to their principles in order to try and regain their advantage.
Leam Richardson would have been delighted with the manner in which his s ide had reacted to going behind and how they had managed to make their aerial dominance count to draw level ahead of the break. The visiting boss – who was once on the books of Rovers as a player – would have been encouraging his side to continue working hard and pushing to continue to frustrate Rovers, in order to try and earn a point or even a winner as the second-half grew.
After the sides returned for the second period, it was Rovers who got the second-half underway as they were looking to return to winning ways after a run of six defeats in their last seven games.
It took less than a minute for Sammie Szmodics to get up to his old trick and net his 16th goal of the season as a fantastic, persistent piece of play by James Hill saw him slide a pinpoint through ball into the path of Szmodics. The skipper for the day’s first touch was immaculate as he managed to dribble round the stretching Johansson in order to caress the ball into the empty net, to give Rovers their advantage again at 2-1!
Johansson was nearly at fault for a third goal in the 53rd minute as his poor pass put Rotherham under-pressure as Wharton intercepted a defender and looked to slide through Telalović. The German picked the ball up on the edge of the box and tried to net with a low left-footed finish, but it lacked the power to make Johansson sweat.
Ten minutes later, Rotherham were up the other end looking to equalise again as Sam Nombe’s cross saw Tom Eaves beat his man to connect with the delivery, but the former Hull City striker couldn’t keep his nod down.
In the 64th minute, Rovers made a double change as Dilan Markanday and Niall Ennis replaced Andrew Moran and Semir Telalović.
Three minutes later, in the 67th minute, Rotherham made two switches of their own as Jamie Lindsay and Jordan Hugill replaced Sam Clucas and Sam Nombe.
Viktor Johansson was determined to fill Ewood Park with frustration as he once again kept his side in the game with a save as he denied Niall Ennis’ deft header who had connected with a Dilan Markanday cross.
The former Tottenham Hotspur winger was again lively in the 74th minute as he found Szmodics who again forced Johansson into a save from a wide angle.
Leam Richardson soon made third and fourth changes in the 77th minute as Cafu and Arvin Appiah took the places of Ollie Rathbone and Dexter Lembikisa.
With 82 minutes gone, Szmodics and Sigurðsson combined well as the latter looked to double his personal tally for the calendar year – to two(!) – but the Swede in goal again showed his quality to keep his side in the game.
The goalkeeper’s contributions soon paid dividends as within a minute of stopping Rovers from going 3-1 ahead, Tom Eaves pulled out a trademark header to level the scoring at 2-2 and pile more misery on Rovers in the closing stages of the game. Sebastian Revan was well-placed down the right-hand side as he avoided any threat of being pressure by a Rovers shirt, before hanging up a fantastic cross into the centre of the box as Eaves battled against Rovers’ backline to get to the ball first as he managed to angle his nod into the bottom right-hand corner, beating Wahlstedt to send the Rotherham fans behind the goal wild.
As Rovers never really looked like equalising, despite pushing forwards during the final eight minutes, a minimum of four added minutes were called for by referee Jarred Gillett.
Rotherham made their final change in the 90th minute to try and see out their well-earned point, as Georgie Kelly replaced the equalising goalscorer, Tom Eaves.
The final chance of the game again saw Johansson come to his side’s rescue as Adam Wharton’s free-kick was met by the head of James Hill, but Rotherham’s goalkeeper made a fine save as the final whistle soon came as Rovers looked truthfully toothless after conceding their second equaliser.
Sadly, Rovers’ soft underbelly reared its ugly head, as Rotherham arguably played their way to a draw with the simplest of game plans – hit Tom Eaves and watch the chaos begin. Despite Rovers’ comfort in possession of the ball, individual errors are what ultimately cost Rovers today, with Leopold Wahlstedt’s error from the corner being the most obvious to critique. The lack of decisiveness and strength from the visitor’s set-pieces have shown that there’s a lot of work still left to be done in that department. Furthermore, the lack of height and strength within the Rovers ranks also shows that they have to become more streetwise and wily in order to try and quell this poor defensive run. With the January transfer window now opening, there’s a wonder whether Rovers can somehow manage to muster up funds to try and support this injury-hit group.
Rovers now sit 17th in the table after 26 games, with 32 points, despite remaining on their negative -9 goal-difference.
After starting 2024 in neutral, Rovers will be hoping to shift a gear next week, as they have a free week to prepare for the 3pm visit of Cambridge United in the FA Cup Third Round on Saturday 6th January. After that cup clash, Rovers are back on the road as they travel to the Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday 13th January at 3pm, before returning home to try and exact revenge on Huddersfield Town, who make the trip across the Pennines on Saturday 20th January for the 3pm start.
