On-the-whistle report: Blackburn Rovers 2 Rotherham United 1

ROTHERHAM United suffered last-gasp heartbreak at Blackburn Rovers as they were denied the point they deserved in the dying seconds of their Championship clash.
Richard Wood and Matt Olosunde in first-half action at Blackburn. Picture by Jim BrailsfordRichard Wood and Matt Olosunde in first-half action at Blackburn. Picture by Jim Brailsford
Richard Wood and Matt Olosunde in first-half action at Blackburn. Picture by Jim Brailsford

They were drawing 1-1 in the final minute of stoppage time, having just spurned a wonderful chance to win the match themselves, when Rovers' top scorer, Adam Armstrong, pounced from close range.

Michael Smith had fired them in front in the 61st before an 80th-minute Harvey Elliott equaliser.

Substitute Freddie Ladapo looked as if he was going to be the added-time hero but put a header wide.

That honour went, cruelly, to Armstrong and the Millers, who were well worth of at least a draw, remain 20th in the table.

They competed superbly but now haven't won at Ewood Park in ten attempts in the last 41 years.

Goalkeeper Viktor Johansson prevented them falling behind early on, coming off his line to thwart Adam Armstrong who had been played in by a sixth-minute back pass from Matt Crooks that was far too short.

Nine minutes later, Rotherham came agonisingly close at the other end as Matt Olosunde swept the ball in low from the right only for Smith to direct a golden opportunity just wide.

There were few clear sights of goal for either side in the first half an hour as the visitors' pressing kept Rovers at bay.

Barry Douglas sent a fierce 27th-minute shot fizzing wide for Blackburn while Olsounde was similarly off target moments afterwards for the Millers when he twisted and turned into a shooting position.

Johansson excelled again on 33 minutes, diving full length to keep out Joe Rothwell's effort before Michael Smith had the ball taken off his toes just as he was about to shoot following good work down the right by Kyle Vassell.

Manager Paul Warne had kept faith with the side that had won so well against Bristol City last Saturday, although there were a couple of changes on the bench.

Left-back/winger Trevor Clarke was missing with a back injury but wide man Mickel Miller was back in the squad after illness.

Rotherham had done a good job of keeping 14-goal Armstrong quiet. The little striker got away soon after the break but the angle was always going to be too tight and he hit the  side-netting.

Vassell strode forward in the 56th minute and tried his luck from distance, troubling only the man fetching the ball from the stand behind the net.

The Millers made the breakthough just past the hour mark as Smith latched on to Crooks' pass and beat Thomas  Kaminksi with a low shot for his second goal in two games.

Crooks should have doubled the advantage on 74 minutes but was a whisker wide when he ran in on goal.

Rotherham were daring to dream of a famous win until Elliott made no mistake when Armstong turned provider by working the opening.

Then Ladapo missed and that dream turned into a nightmare as Armstrong bagged his 15th of the season with less than a minute left to play.

Goals: Smith 61 (Rotherham); Elliott 80, Armstrong 90+7 (Blackburn).

Blackburn (4-2-3-1): Thomas Kaminski; Ryan Nyambe, Darragh Lenihan, Daniel Ayala, Barry Douglas (Amari'i Bell 60); Bradley Johnson (Tom Trybull 69), John Buckley (Lewis Holtby 69); Harvey Elliott, Joe Rothwell (Stewart Downing 60), Sam Gallagher (Tyrhys Dolan 90); Adam Armstrong. Subs not used: Aynsley Pears, Harry Chapman, Hayden Carter, Brad Lyons.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Michael Ihiekwe, Richard Wood, Angus MacDonald; Matt Olosunde, Jamie Lindsay, Dan Barlaser (Billy Jones 90+4), Matt Crooks, Ben Wiles (Wes Harding 71); Michael Smith (George Hirst 71), Kyle Vassell (Freddie Ladapo 71). Subs not used: Jamal Blackman, Adam Thompson, Florian Jozefzoon, Mickel Miller.

Referee: Jarred Gillett (Merseyside).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Davis

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