MATCH REPORT: Fading Millers punished by Brighton

ROTHERHAM United’s miserable Championship season continued after two second-half goals condemned them to defeat against promotion chasers Brighton.
Will Vaulks...goalline clearanceWill Vaulks...goalline clearance
Will Vaulks...goalline clearance

A decent first 45 minutes counted for nothing and like so many times this term, the opposition’s extra quality told in the end as strikes from Anthony Knockaert and Solly March sealed a 2-0 loss.

With skipper Lee Frecklington back in the starting line-up, the Millers played intelligently in the first half, funnelling back in numbers and carrying a threat when they did get forward.

Tom Adeyemi put a good close-range chance at the legs of goalkeeper David Stockdale and young striker Jerry Yates, leading the line alone up front, saw his volley from ten yards clawed away by the stopper.

Rotherham had to be on their toes at the other end to stay in the game though. Stand-in right-back Will Vaulks was forced to head off the line from Lewis Dunk and goalkeeper Lewis Price came to the rescue with a good stop from Sam Baldock right on half time.

Bidding to stave off a third successive defeat, Brighton re-emerged for the second half with gusto and took the lead three minutes in. Two desperate blocks from Price and Joe Mattock looked to have repelled an attack but the loose ball fell for Knockaert to fire in.

Brighton settled into a rhythm after the goal but were made to work hard for another until 11 minutes from time due to an error from Price, letting substitute March’s shot slip out of his grasp at his near post.

Sam Baldock could have increased the damage late on but blazed high and wide when clean through.

Millers: Price; Vaulks, Mattock (Purrington 73), Belaid, Ajayi; Smallwood (Newell 59); Forde (Bray 71), Adeyemi, Frecklington, Taylor; Yates

Brighton:  Stockdale; Bruno, Huenemeier, Dunk, Rosenior; Knockaert, Stephens, Kayal, Skalak; Hemed, Baldock

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 8,366 (1,006 visitors)