MATCH REPORT: Ten-man Millers hold Forest
JON Taylor struck twice to earn ten-man Rotherham United a draw from a pulsating tussle with Nottingham Forest.
The winger’s first-half opener had the Millers in front at half time only for the visitors to hit back to lead 2-1 as defender Darnell Fisher was dimissed for two bookable offences. But Taylor swooped four minutes from time to earn a richly deserved point.
Rotherham had taken the lead with a beautifully constructed goal on 30 minutes, typical of much of their forward play in the first half. Joe Mattock’s clearance from deep was flicked on by Danny Ward to Izzy Brown and the Chelsea loanee burst forward and teed up the onrushing Taylor to tuck home.
Taylor couldn’t capitalise on a decent chance to double the advantage moments later from another good move and Forest were second best in that period.
They took the initiative in the second half. Pajtim Kasami sprayed over from ten yards but then Brown and Greg Halford both fired warnings before the equaliser came on 76 minutes. Henri Lansbury drilled in a corner and Matt Mills’ header squirmed through a crowded goalmouth and in.
Things got worse seven minutes from time when Fisher was dismissed and Vellios soon took advantage by scoring with a spectacular overhead kick from a tight angle.
The celebrations had barely died down when Rotherham levelled, with Taylor smashing in his second of the night on the turn. They were his first goals for the club.
The drama wasn’t over, Lansbury forcing a great block from Camp and substitute Nicklas Bendtner heading the rebound against the post.
The Millers then saw out seven minutes of stoppage time to close out the game and unlike on Saturday, they walked off to warm applause from an appreciative home crowd.
Millers: Camp, Fisher, Mattock, Halford, Wilson, Halford, Adeyemi (Frecklington 82), Taylor, Brown, Allan, Ward (Yates 69, Kelly 84))
Forest: Stojkovic, Lichaj, Mills, Perquis (Mancienne 46), Traore, Dumitru (Bendtner 58), Lansbury (c), Grant, Kasami, Osborn, Vellios
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
Attendance: 10,243 (2,138 visitors)
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