REPORT: Millers are on their way to Wembley

ROTHERHAM United booked a return ticket to Wembley on a terrific night at the AESSEAL New York Stadium

They beat Scunthorpe 2-0 to set up a mouthwatering League One play-off final against Shrewsbury next Sunday and increase chances of a swift return to the Championship.

A goal in each half from skipper Richard Wood and Will Vaulks set the celebrations in motion as the Millers finished the job they started in Saturday’s 2-2 first-leg draw at Glanford Park.

The final will pit Rotherham boss Paul Warne against his old Millmoor team-mate, and now Shrews boss, Paul Hurst, adding extra spice to the match.

The home line-up showed one change from Saturday’s first leg at Glanford Park, with Joe Newell in for Jon Taylor in another five-man midfield.

It took the Millers a long time to get going, with Scunthorpe looking much sharper all over the park in the early exchanges. Duane Holmes had an effort chalked off for offside and Hakeeb Adelakun tested Marek Rodak from distance.

Despite the pattern of the game, Rotherham had yells for a penalty waved away when Ryan Williams went down under a meaty challenge from Ryan Yates, video evidence appearing to show the claims had foundation.

Scunthorpe keeper Rory Watson, again deputising for the injured Matt Gilks, did his confidence no harm by keeping out a header from Michael Ihiekwe and then somehow clawing away a Richie Towell curler that seemed destined for the top corner.

Despite playing without any real cohesion, the Millers continued to create openings, the Iron breathing a sigh of relief when Joe Mattock’s header whistled just a yard wide of a post.

There was no escape for them in first-half stoppage time though. Will Vauks flung in a long throw and Wood got on the end of it to thump home a header.  Three-and-a-half sides of the stadium erupted.

Although the fact Rotherham turned around with their noses in front without ever having really hit full stride was a bonus and another arrived on 63 minutes.

Josh Emmanuel surged into the area and his ball in fell for Vaulks to stretch out a leg and turn the ball home from close range right. The Player of the Year wheeled away to launch onto his trademark somersault celebration in front of the kop.

Rotherham still had to be on the guard. Ivan Toney was twice from close range while substitute Cameron McGeehan  put a close-range header wide. Marek Rodak also had to stand tall to thwart Holmes.

The visitors’ comeback chances received a blow on 75 minutes when skipper Rory McArdle was sent off after picking up a second booking.

They still tried to salvage something from the tie and Rodak showed his value again when going full stretch to foil the dangerous Holmes.

The final whistle was greeted by a pitch invasion by the ecstatic home fans who have a great, and hopefully successful, day out to look forward to.

Millers: Rodak; Emmanuel, Ihiekwe (Ajayi 51), Wood, Mattock; Williams (Taylor 68), Vaulks, Palmer, Towell, Newell (Forde 90); Smith.

Scunthorpe: Watson, Vermijl, Townsend, McArdle, Wallace, Adelakun (McGeehan 62), Yates (Hopper 83), Ojo, Morris, Holmes, Toney (Novak 81)

Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland)

Attendance: 11,061 (1,202 visitors)