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Woeful Bees Get What Was Coming
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Perhaps this is the wake up call we needed.
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By:
Eric Hitchmo
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27/09/2009
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More On Rotherham United
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"Saturday was a big crash down to earth that had been coming for a while. Rotherham were clinical and strong, and took advantage of what was a horrendous defensive performance, with little help from the rest of the team.
Now whilst I agree that things could have done with a little rejig after two draws against Macclesfield and Bradford, the wholesale changes to the side were a little TOO drastic in my opinion. The defence was incredibly weak and all four defenders played very badly yesterday. Jake Cole had little hope with the three goals, which were gifted to the Millers in front of their newly unveiled manager Ronnie Moore.
Whilst I was very unhappy yesterday and the rest of this article will largely be very critical of what happened at Don Valley, it is important to note that I am still happy with how things are panning out this season. We are still doing well, and of course while this is a setback, we've got two home games approaching to set the record straight. I will be on something of a rant, but it certainly does not reflect my appraisal of the season so far.
Hendon made three changes to the back four, with the two full backs performing very poorly. Kenny Gillet and Joe Devera probably had their worst games for the club. Gillet was constantly caught out of position and played several shocking passes in dangerous areas, giving away possession cheaply. He was caught out for the first goal, the ball again being played in behind him. From the resulting ball across the box, Devera somehow allowed Kevin Ellison to get in front of him to poke the ball home.
The second goal was a sucker punch. We looked like we were getting ourselves a foothold in the game, with ancient Millers keeper Warrington having to make one save of note from Jarrett. We had some noteworthy possession and territory deep inside the Rotherham half, but allowed them to double the lead on a counter attack. Confusion reigned amongst the back four as the ball was slipped past Devera and finished very delicately for the second goal. Now there's a kick in the teeth.
The half petered out into very disappointing nothingness, and was perhaps summed up by Albert Jarrett sending two corners out of play, with no threat of the ball ever making it into the penalty area. Frustrating indeed, you wonder how a professional footballer can do such a thing, twice!
The game was killed off early in the second half after yet more woeful defending. Ismail Yakubu, solid and dependable so far this season, was rooted to the spot as a through ball rolled past him. Seemingly pointing and inviting Adam Le Fondre into the gaping space behind him, his recovery efforts were in vain as Rotherham strolled their way to three easy points.
Going forward, the front two were given little to work with. John O'Flynn missed a good chance late on after some decent play on the wing by Yannick Bolasie, but his header dropped agonisingly wide. Bolasie, who replaced a quiet Albert Adomah also managed to send a third corner off for a goal kick in the second half. The home crowd, who were largely quiet in their odd surroundings, were bought to life in rapturous laughter and applause at the slapstick comedy provided by our set pieces. Just what was that all about?
All in all very very poor and a very disappointing afternoon. Rotherham's supporters must have been scratching their heads at how such a side started the day in fourth, but of course we know how this side CAN play and I'll be hoping their arses will be firmly in gear come Tuesday's difficult visit from Dagenham & Redbridge.
I will repeat however that the season is still going well and I reckon this was just a bad day at the office. It certainly isn't time to start panicking yet, just like it wasn't time to get carried away with the great start we had made after going top at Northampton. The manner of defeat was shocking, and Ian Hendon has rightly summed it up as ""unacceptable"" as well as summoning the squad into training today. Quite right too.
Onwards and upwards, this one's gone now and we've a big game to worry about on Tuesday."
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