Rovers’ first away day of the campaign ended in relief, as the Blues battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a respectable point away in South Yorkshire.
Jon Dahl Tomasson made one change to the side that beat West Bromwich Albion, 2-1, on the opening day of the season, ahead of the Blues’ first away trip of the Championship campaign, as Adam Wharton came in – after an impressive display in the 4-3 Carabao Cup First Round win over Walsall – to replace Sondre Tronstad, who dropped to the bench. There were two new additions to the bench, as Sam Gallagher returned from injury, whilst new signing, Leopold Wahlstedt also made a Rovers matchday squad for the first time.
As the atmosphere inside the AESSEAL New York Stadium ramped up to the max, both sides soon made their way out onto the pitch ahead of kick-off, as Sammie Szmodics got the ball rolling, with Rovers looking for a third consecutive victory to start the campaign.
The Millers got the first half-chance of the game as Fred Onyedinma’s effort from goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson’s long punt, was expertly saved by Aynsley Pears in the 10th minute.
Rovers were soon afforded the chance to take their first lead away at Rotherham, since May 2021, when Joe Rankin-Costello was fouled inside the penalty area. Following a stoppage to clear the box, it was Sammie Szmodics who stepped up to try and tuck away the spot-kick, but his effort rebounded back off the upright, before Tyrhys Dolan’s scooped his follow-up over the crossbar.
To add insult to injury, the 23rd minute saw the hosts take the lead, with the same goalscorer who put the Millers ahead in last season’s demolition; Hakeem Odoffin. The ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder managed to capitalise on a loose pass by Szmodics, before keeping his composure long enough to provide the hosts with the 1-0 lead.
With half-an-hour gone, Rovers tried their luck from range, as Hayden Carter’s hit from range was blocked into the path of Adam Wharton whose volley ballooned high and wide of the mark.
A flurry of bookings soon emerged to see out the first-half, as in the 33rd minute, Cafú was booked for handball. Five minutes later, Szmodics had his name taken following a foul on Blackburn-born Ollie Rathbone.
After a minimum of three minutes were allocated onto the end of the first period, Rotherham United saw another name go into the book, as Dexter Lembikisa was booked for dissent in the final act of the half, after pushing Wharton.
During the break, Matt Taylor would have wanted more energy from his side who had once again, managed to dismantle Rovers at home. The Millers boss would have called on his side to continue their fine start to the game in the second period.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have been frustrated with the manner in which his side had literally gifted the home team the opening goal of the game. The Dane would have been calling on his side to up their tempo and show their quality in the second-half.
The game was restarted by the hosts who were looking to bounce back after a 4-1 demolishing against Stoke City on the opening day of the campaign.
Bounce back they certainly did, as after three minutes of time, they managed to double their advantage to 2-0, courtesy of Rovers switching off defensively, as Fred Onyedinma headed home at the back-post from a Cafú free-kick, as Rovers looked at sixes and sevens in South Yorkshire.
Rotherham soon hit the self-destruct button, just moments after cementing themselves in the game, as goalscorer Onyedinma received two yellow cards in quick succession – one for his goal celebration – but the second confused every home supporter in the ground, with all the Millers faithful unsure as to the reasoning behind the second yellow card from ex-Premier League official, Bobby Madley.
That dismissal sparked a chain reaction of yellow cards as Rotherham boss Matt Taylor and a member of his staff were both booked for their protestations, whilst Johansson was also cautioned for his argument.
In the 58th minute, Jon Dahl Tomasson had seen enough and made a triple change, as Niall Ennis, Ryan Hedges and Callum Brittain all replaced Harry Leonard, Dilan Markanday and Lewis Travis, as Joe Rankin-Costello shifted into midfield for the final half-an-hour or so.
Just after the hour, a short Rovers corner was fed to Adam Wharton as the ‘Jewel in Rovers’ crown’ saw his effort from range balloon over the crossbar.
With that stoppage, Rotherham United made their first changes of the afternoon, as Jordan Hugill and Cafú left the field, with Georgie Kelly and Sean Morrison replacing the pair.
Tyrhys Dolan’s last act of the game came in the 64th minute as he latched onto the end of Rankin-Costello’s cross, but couldn’t direct the delivery on goal.
Four minutes later, Dolan departed, being replaced by Sam Gallagher.
It became all Rovers as they used their man advantage to try and get back into the game. Callum Brittain broke down the right and put in another inviting cross that was aimed towards Ryan Hedges. The Welshman however, was unable to properly control the ball as it ricocheted back against him and bounced wide of the net, in an unorthodox attempt at goal.
The visiting dominance continued, as Hedges soon fed Rankin-Costello, but the now-midfielder saw his attempt fall just wide of the mark.
The 74th minute saw Rovers’ desperation increase as Sammie Szmodics, was desperate to atone for his earlier missed penalty and his misplaced pass that resulted in the opening Rotherham goal, as his effort from range was charged down and blocked behind by the red and white wall in-front of Johansson.
It didn’t take long for that blotch on his record to be wiped off, as Rovers’ short corners finally resulted in a Szmodics goal! The ball was played out as far as Wharton who delivered a sublime threaded ball past a couple of home shirts to find Szmodics, who held his nerve brilliantly in a crowded area to find the near-post via a deflection off a flailing home body, for 2-1!
With their tails up, Rovers continued to pile on the pressure, as Ryan Hedges was next in line to test Vikor Johansson. The Welshman cut inside and tried to sneak one in at the near-post, but the Swede was there to deny a leveller.
But Rovers’ pressure soon broke the Rotherham resistance in the 78th minute, as Sammie Szmodics soon showed his class and fire Rovers level! Ennis did outstandingly to bring the ball down just inside the Rotherham half and slide Gallagher through, who was peeling off his man. The interception saw the ball inadvertently pass into the feet of an unmarked Szmodics who poked the ball away from an incoming challenge, to break into the box. The lively midfielder continued his fine work by again keeping his composure and dribbling past the onrushing Johansson, before just about slotting into the net – narrowly evading the retreating defender – to send the travelling 1,916 contingency wild at 2-2!
Rotherham retaliated with a change in the 81st minute as Dexter Lembikisa made way for Tolaji Bola.
The 83rd minute saw Rovers again craft another chance at potentially turning the game on its head, as Brittain’s cross fell to the right-foot of Harry Pickering, who forced a save from Johansson.
Two minutes later, the Rovers left-back was back at it again, as he tried a left-footed dipping volley this time, but again the Swedish goalkeeper was on-hand to deny Rovers the lead for the first-time in the game.
Scenes soon broke out in the away end, as Rovers thought they had managed to complete the entire comeback, as Dominic Hyam had managed to poke the ball home via a Niall Ennis cross, but the assistant referee had claimed the Rovers defender had strayed offside.
The final two changes from Matt Taylor saw Joshua Kayode and Ciaran McGuckin replace Ollie Rathbone and Ben Wiles for the final few minutes of the tie, as Rotherham looked to settle for the draw.
As Rovers continued pushing, with time ticking over to 90 minutes, referee Bobby Madley called for nine added minutes to be played at the end of the game, which brought a roar from the travelling support.
The visitors continued to push forwards in the hope of finding that all-elusive winner, as Rankin-Costello looked to set up Ennis for a potential crowd-pleaser, but the former Plymouth Argyle forward couldn’t build on his midweek goal to bag Rovers the winner, as his connection bobbled behind.
Ryan Hedges and Harry Pickering combined in the 94th minute, but Pickering’s left-footed effort flashed across the face of goal.
A final Rovers change came after the ball went out of play via Pickering’s effort as John Buckley came on in the closing stages for Adam Wharton.
Sam Gallagher nearly nabbed himself a first of the season after his fine movement saw him get on the end of a Brittain cross, but his nod was denied by the Swede in the Rotherham goal.
The final act of the game saw Rankin-Costello’s effort blocked and cleared, as he was charged down by the valiant home defence, who were now desperate to hold onto a point, after losing control of all three.
Soon after, Bobby Madley called time on a pulsating game, as the spoils were shared between Yorkshire and Lancashire, with neither side being able to find the winner.
Despite Rovers’ slow start to the game, which saw them miss a penalty as well as gift an opener to the hosts, the mentality and ‘never say die’ attitude of the players and the Head Coach, must be praised for what could turn out to be an important point as the season goes on. Whilst Rovers will, of course, be disappointed not to come away from the game with all three, the mental strength and ability it takes to come back from a few mistakes and salvage a draw.
The ‘bounceback ability’ that Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side displayed will no doubt stand them in good stead for the rest of the campaign, especially after they only managed to gain six point from 21 deficits during 2022-23. Whilst, of course, it is early days and against a team with ten men, it is certainly a positive sign for Rovers. Each player deserves their plaudits from today’s game, with too many to offer praise to, however Sammie Szmodics’ single-mindedness deserves a special mention. The livewire managed to rebound from a sub-standard first-half, which included a penalty miss, to save Rovers’ bacon.
Whilst we’re still in the infancy of the campaign, with just two games played, Rovers do find themselves in 7th with a positive goal-difference of +1, on four points.
Rovers are back at home, next week, as they host Liam Rosenior’s Hull City on Saturday 19th August at 3pm, before an eight-day break prior to facing Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday 27th at midday – a game that will be viewable on Sky Sports. It’s then a quick turnaround for the ‘stretched’ squad, as they then make the trip over to Harrogate Town on Wednesday 30th August for their first-ever meeting, in the Carabao Cup Second Round.
