Millers defeated by hard-working Lilywhites...

It was an evening to forget at the AESSEAL New York Stadium as the Millers’ were beaten two goals to one by Ryan Lowe’s Preston North End. Hakeem Odoffin headed the Millers back into it following Tom Cannon’s opener, before Ched Evans got the away sides noses back in front. The Welshman’s strike proved to be enough to seal the three points for the visitors.

Here’s how the action unfolded…

Heading into this evening’s clash, Ryan Lowe’s men were unbeaten in their last six Sky Bet Championship outings, and came in search of a seventh.

The clear momentum behind the away side doesn’t detract from the Millers back-to-back victories in their two previous home fixtures.

Matt Taylor has praised his side in recent weeks for their ability to start games on the front foot, with today being no exception. Chiedozie Ogbene immediately looked a handful, winning a free kick on the right-hand side of the Lilywhites’ box. Fosu shaped to deliver, but executed a winding shot into the side netting which caught Woodman off-guard.

The Millers looked lively throughout the opening exchanges, springing a handful of potentially lethal counter-attacks. One such counter Ogbene once again at the forefront, shrugging off challenge after challenge to find the run of Ferguson, the Millers’ ’17 looked to square the ball for Hugill before Bambo Diaby was able to clear with his head.

Against the run of play, North End skipper Browne floated in a cross, met by Brady who knocked it down into a dangerous area for Tom Cannon to dispatch from close range to give his side the lead.

Refusing to have their spirits dampened, Matt Taylor’s men went in search of an instant leveller. Wes Harding found wiggle-room down the right before fashioning a cross towards skipper Jordan Hugill. The Millers’ number 10’s powerful header was blazed narrowly over the bar however.

Ched Evans came inches from doubling the Lilywhite’s lead as he positioned himself on the end of the Robbie Brady cross. The Preston striker couldn’t fashion a proper effort on goal before Humphreys was on-hand to clear the danger.

Ryan Lowe’s men have had a steadfast defence throughout the season, but they could do little to stop the run of Hakeem Odoffin as he evaded his marker to meet a near-post Shane Ferguson corner and power his header through the grasp of Woodman to level things at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

As quickly as the ball was in the back of the net at one end, it was soon back in at the other. Robbie Brady struck powerfully on the volley as Johansson could only parry it. The goalscorer Tom Cannon was there to pick up the pieces and convert into an empty net, but the linesman’s offside flag shorted the travelling pack’s celebrations.

On the stroke of half time, Preston found the lead once again through Ched Evans. The Welshman spun on the spot and struck from far with his left foot into the bottom corner.

HALF TIME: ROTHERHAM 1 – 2 PRESTON

Whatever Ryan Lowe told his side over the break clearly invigorated them. Tom Cannon snuck in behind to latch onto the end of Ched Evans deft ball before his strike deflected off the crossbar.

Ched Evans once again proved to be a thorn in the side of the Millers as he wiggled through the defence before managing to shoot off balance. Defensive heroics from Odoffin saw the goalscorer throw himself in front of the strike to make a vital block.

Hakeem’s heroics resulted in a corner for the Lilywhites. Brady’s delivery was met by a scramble in the box, before Bambo Diaby managed to hook a foot towards it, but could only stab it over the bar.

Spurred on by the changes, the noise around the AESSEAL New York Stadium began to grow. Cohen Bramall and Peter Kioso were piling on the pressure down the flanks, but the Preston rearguard continued to deny the ever-more frequent advances.

Cohen Bramall skipped past his defender before feeding Conor Washington. The substitute then found Jordan Hugill, who couldn’t get the ball under his spell before his effort bent wide.

The fourth officials board provided the home crowd with another injection of energy as six additional minutes were to be played. Unfortunately, however, the Preston defence were able to answer the questions asked of them by the growing Rotherham United pressure as the referee called a stop to the action.

FULL TIME: ROTHERHAM 1 – 2 PRESTON

Teams

Rotherham United – Johansson, Harding (Blackett 57’), Coventry (Lindsay 73’), Fosu, Hugill ©, Ogbene, Ferguson (Washington 57’), Peltier (Kioso 73’), Odoffin, Humphreys, Hjelde (Bramall 57’).

Unused subs – Vickers, Eaves.

Preston North End – Woodman, Cunningham, Whiteman, Browne © (Onomah 85’), Evans (Parrott 70’), Johnson (Ledson 79’), Brady (Fernandez 79’), Storey, Diaby, Cannon (Delap 85’), Potts.

Unused subs – Cornell, Hughes.

Referee

S. Martin

Attendance

9,003 (723)