Millers beaten at Moor Farm Training Ground...
Rotherham United Reserves were beaten 2-0 by Derby County Reserves at Moor Farm.
The Millers were beaten in a close game played in blustery conditions at Derby’s training headquarters after goals from Jamie Hanson and Ivan Calero.
With both sides trying to adapt to the tricky conditions it turned into a cagey start to proceedings. The home side went close when Alban Bunjako’s shot was blocked, then Kwame Thomas headed wide from Alefe Santos’s cross.
Derby took the lead on 29 minutes when Daniel Rowe hauled down Max Lowe. From the resulting free-kick Hanson expertly curled a free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards leaving Tony Thompson with no chance.
The Millers finished the half strongly when Paul Taylor’s free-kick hit the side netting and a minute later another Taylor set-play was deflected into the path of Conor Newton whose shot was blocked.
With 10 minutes until the break the Millers were denied a penalty when Jonson Clarke-Harris was hauled down, and soon after Newton flashed a shot wide from 20 yards.
Conditions seemed to get worse in the second 45 with the Millers kicking against a strengthening wind. On 52 minutes Jordan Bowery’s goalbound shot was deflected wide and from the resulting corner Mat Sadler’s goalbound effort was blocked.
Derby doubled their advantage just before the hour mark when Calero burst through several challenges to calmly slide the ball beyond Thompson.
Conditions made it difficult for either side to create much more in the final 20 minutes with Newton firing wide and Febian Brandy having an effort blocked from distance.
Derby: Mitchell, Hendrie, Lowe, Koblenz, Rawson, Hanson, Santos (McDonald 74), Guy (Sharpe 66), Thomas, Bunjaku, Calero (Vernam 79).
Subs not used: Behrens, Adams
Rotherham United: Thompson, Wiles, Sadler, Lucas, Rowe, Rose, Bowery, Newton, Clarke-Harris, Taylor, Brandy.
Subs not used: Denton, Yates, Bailey, Norfolk, Hallatt.