Joy, sadness, the names on the screen and Dan the destroyer... the story of Rotherham United 2 Blackpool 1

THE elation of victory was mixed with the sadness of death. Paul Warne was thinking about his dad.
Dan Barlaser wins the match for the Millers. Pictures by Steve MettamDan Barlaser wins the match for the Millers. Pictures by Steve Mettam
Dan Barlaser wins the match for the Millers. Pictures by Steve Mettam

It all became too much for the Rotherham United manager and he broke down in his New Year's Day press conference after watching his side climb into an automatic-promotion spot by beating Blackpool.

His father, Russell, who died in the summer, had been one of the names writ large on the giant screen at AESSEAL New York Stadium as the Millers paid homage to 2019 lost loved ones in their annual 'Rotherham Remembers' tribute.

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The boss was discussing how well his players had performed, how wonderful the festive period had been with three victories and a draw, how he wasn't getting carried away despite his team's improving form and elevated status.

"It was really fitting because it was 'Rotherham Remembers' today," he said. "I wanted to be out there to see my father's name."

He caught his breath. Then the tears flowed.

Warne had watched the Millers produce arguably their best home display of the campaign in a compelling contest against a strong, committed Seasiders side settled by Dan Barlaser's stunning late free-kick.

It had been 1-1 at the break but the weight of Rotherham's fitness, their spirit, their ambition, their steel told in a second half that showed they're in second place in League One entirely on merit.

What a strike

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"I thought we played really well," the manager said. "It was good to back up the performance in our previous home game against Peterborough (4-0 win).

"I thought we deserved to go in at half-time in the lead rather than at 1-1. In the second half, I wasn't content with the draw. I wanted the win. I made attacking substitutions.

"If we play with that amount of pride and passion, even if we don't win there will be no complaints from me. 

I thought a goal would come in the second half, although you live in a state of fear that it won't. We're good going towards the kop. I thought sooner or later something would drop for us.

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"I tried to squeeze the game out of Blackpool from the first kick. I can't knock the lads' effort. We've been in every day apart from Christmas Day. We're all exhausted. The players are all bored of hearing me talk."

Moments later, sat behind the microphone in the media suite, he couldn't help the emotion seeping out of him.

In time, he gathered himself, slightly embarrassed by his reaction when there was absolutely no reason to be, and his usual humour returned.

"Okay, I'm back in the room," he chirped. "Let's talk about Dan Barlaser."

THE MATCH

Yes, let's talk about Dan Barlaser.

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The Newcastle United loan man was just brilliant. He set up the opening goal for Michael Smith, he settled the game in sublime style and in between he conjured up pass after pass and one deadly corner and free-kick after another.

Blackpool may have had a player called Jay Spearing but it was the Rotherham midfielder's twisting of the knife that caused all the damage.

Barlaser, the loveliest, most-quietly-spoken bloke you could wish to meet, had been a slow burn since his summer arrival but in recent weeks has produced quality of the kind the division can't handle.

"He makes us tick," said Warne. "If you took him out of the team we wouldn't be the same team.

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"He switches the play really well. He allows Chieo (winger Chiedozie Ogbene) to get on the ball in dangerous areas. He's unbelievable on set-pieces."

His 21st-minute corner, laser-guided straight on to the head of Smith, brought the opening goal, although the visitors were level 13 minutes later when goalkeeper Dan Iversen lost his bearings, allowing Armand Gnanduillet a free header at the back-post from Jordan Thompson's cross.

Barlaser would remedy that later.

The teams went for each other after the break and it was Rotherham who prevailed

After Smith was denied a certain penalty by referee James Adcock, Iversen had to save from Matty Virtue and Gnanduillet, but from there on the Millers bit by bit, Barlaser pass by Barlaser pass, began to take over.

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Matt Crooks lifted Richard's Wood's head-back over the bar and Smith's hooked effort was cleared off the line by Ollie Turton while substitute Kyle Vassell, playing against his former club, was foiled by a Mark Howard stop and then directed a close-range header over the bar.

As time was starting to run out, Barlaser stepped up in front of the North Stand in the 85th minute to exquisitely strike a 25-yard free-kick well beyond the helpless Howard.

Michael Smith heads the opener

Warne, with events before kick-off still on his mind, said: "To get a win is fitting for everyone who's lost someone in the last year. If we can all have a good 2020 and enjoy our lives, then that's great."

Further poignancy was added to the afternoon by a minute's applause during the match for supporter Luke Cresswell who died late last month.

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Barlaser was one of the last to leave the field, receiving a bear-hug from coach Matt Hamshaw that threatened to break his willowy frame in two.

With tousled hair, socks round ankles and a beaming, outsized grin, the match-winner looked like a big, happy kid; a big, happy, supremely-talented kid.

"I've been practising getting a 'dip' ball all week with Matt Olosunde and a couple of the other lads," he said. "I try to get it to wobble a bit.

"Woody (Richard Wood) stood in the middle of the wall so the keeper couldn't see and the ball's gone straight into the top corner.

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"My set-pieces have been quite good in the last couple of games. I practise them a lot in training. We can be a massive threat at them because we've got a lot of very big players who want to attack the ball.

"There's Icky (Michael Ihiekwe), Woody and Smudge. Smudge managed to score off one today so that's good."

The 22-year-old quashed fears that he could leave during the January transfer window, saying that only interest from Barcelona could tempt him away.

The concern is, if he continues to play like this Barca might actually come in for him.

THE TRIBUTE

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They flashed slowly by on the screen where the kop meets the West Stand, the names of those with Millers connections who'd passed away in the previous 12 months.

Russell's name was there, so was that of Joan Stewart, the sadly-departed wife of Rotherham chairman Tony and so were many others.

Warne, consumed by pre-match duties, had been unable to go outside and witness the scene ten minutes before kick-off but family members recorded it for him and sent him videos.

"Don't tell me that," he said, wavering again when someone told him his dad would be proud of him."

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He was comforted by journalists and club staff finding it tough to watch a good man suffer before another mention of Barlaser perked him up again.

More celebrations for Barlaser

"The free-kick, there were a lot of people around it," he said. "Hammy (Hamshaw) has a better football brain than me and he said: 'I think it will suit Dan if he just hits one.'

"I shouted for everyone to get away and just let Dan hit it. He came up with one of those crazy ones that no players of my generation can hit. It was a great finish. It did feel mighty sweet when it hit the net, that is for sure."

After stuttering on their own turf earlier in the season, the Millers have come good at New York and Warned added: "I hope we've sorted out the home form now.

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"Winning against Peterborough in our previous home game was a big thing. It gave the fans a bit of hope that they could turn up at New York and see their team perform.

"I felt the fans were behind the team today and had a lot more optimism from the start. The players can feel that. Part of the reason the lads played well today is because they played well in the last match.

"New York felt like a positive place and so it should. We leave the stadium today in second place, and I still don't think we're as good as we can be. We roll into the New Year with a spring in our step."

This was a day that will live in the memory for many reasons.

Rotherham Remembers.

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Rotherham (4-4-2): Dan Iversen; Adam Thompson, Michael Ihiekwe, Richard Wood, Matt Olosunde; Chiedozie Ogbene, Dan Barlaser, Matt Crooks, Ben Wiles (Jake Hastie 69); Freddie Ladapo (Kyle Vassell 63), Michael Smith (Carlton Morris 81). Subs not used: Lewis Price, Trevor Clarke, Julien Lamy, Jamie Lindsay.

Blackpool (4-1-3-2): Mark Howard; Ollie Turton (Liam Feeney 85), Ben Heneghan, Ryan Edwards, James Husband; Jay Spearing; Jordan Thompson, Matty Virtue, Sullay Kaikai (Joe Nuttall H-T); Nathan Delfouneso, Armand Gnanduillet. Subs not used: Jack Sims, Michael Nottingham, Curtis Tilt, Callum Guy, Calum MacDonald.

Goals: Smith 21, Barlaser 85 (Rotherham); Gnanduillet 34 (Blackpool).

Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire).

Attendance: 8,689 (588).

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