MATCH REPORT: Odemwingie off as Millers pipped by Leeds

The forward’s red card for an ugly challenge on Liam Cooper left the Millers to play an hour a man short and despite a late rally that brought a goal from skipper Richard Wood, they were  pipped 2-1.

The defeat, the tenth in the last 11 games, means Kenny Jackett’s men remain 11 points shy of the safety line in the Championship.

A nightmare first half ended with the Millers a man down, two goals down and without trusty goalkeeper Lee Camp.

The omens weren’t  good from the off. Defensive shield Greg Halford went off with an ankle injury inside the first five minutes and Tom Adeyemi was off the field receiving treatment when Leeds took the lead on 14 minutes. Charlie Taylor skinned Stephen Kelly and his cross was tapped in by Chris Wood.

Things got worse on 29 minutes when Odemwingie was shown a straight red card for a moment of apparent foolishness, clattering Cooper in the face as he went to challenge. Cooper needed lengthy treatment.

Shortly afterwards, Camp took off the gloves and had to limp off, with Lewis Price replacing him, and the stand-in stopper was powerless to stop Souleymane  Doukara drilling in the visitors’ second goal deep into seven minutes of first-half stoppage time. Rotherham had hardly threatened.

Disgruntled, some Millers supporters took the opportunity to go home at half time and they missed  little until a dramatic last few minutes. Leeds, content to coast to the points, were given a jolt when Wood got in to direct a header past Rob Green five minutes from time.

Sensing a  point, Rotheham threw everything at the visitors. Sub Will Vaulks forced a full stretch save and the ball was very nearly forced home in an almighty goalmouth scramble before the final whistle blew to the relief of the visitors.

Millers: Camp (Price 35), Kelly, Fisher, Wood, Ball, Halford (Vaulks 15), Brown, Adeyemi, Newell (Forde 76), Odemwingie, Ward

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Cooper, Bartley, Taylor, Phillips, O'Kane, Sacko, Roofe (Antonsson 73), Doukara (Dallas 63), Wood.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

Attendance: 10,513 (2,277 visitors)