The shoot-out, the penalty princes and a night of history ... the story of how Rotherham United saw off Port Vale in the EFL Trophy

Rotherham United 1 Port Vale 1 (Rotherham win 5-3 on penalties)
Josh Kayode in action against Port Vale. Picture by Dave PoucherJosh Kayode in action against Port Vale. Picture by Dave Poucher
Josh Kayode in action against Port Vale. Picture by Dave Poucher

IT was a low-key night for history to be made.

The crowd was a sixth of the size it would be for a league encounter, only two stands at AESSEAL New York Stadium were open and Rotherham United were playing a team from the division below.

Yet by the end of this EFL Trophy tie the Millers had achieved something they had never done before: they had gone 17 consecutive matches in all competitions unbeaten.

It bettered the old record of 16, set during Steve Evans’ League One promotion march of 2014.

Rotherham, who look to be heading towards the Championship again under Paul Warne, needed a penalty shoot-out to see off League Two Port Vale in the first knockout phase of a much-maligned tournament.

But they would have established a new mark anyway without their perfect five-from-five spot-kick haul as Tuesday’s tie had finished 1-1 and a draw is how the contest will be officially documented.

“It was one of our worst displays within those 17 matches, truth be told,” said Warne who had rested several of his main men for more important league matters to come. “I wasn’t expecting a perfect performance with all the changes we made.

“It is an achievement, one for everyone at the club: the players, the owner who kindly supports us, all the staff.”

Rotherham rained quality crosses into the Vale box in a first half during which visiting goalkeeper Aidan Stone superbly denied Will Grigg yet they had to wait until the 56th minute to take the lead.

Ollie Rathbone’s piercing pass sent Kieran Sadlier racing down the right and a pinpoint cross was met perfectly by the swipe of substitute Michael Smith. Stone was left unturned such was the speed that the ball flashed by him.

Jamie Lindsay wasted a glorious chance to make it 2-0 when his tame shot, after he’d been released one on one by Josh Kayode, was easily saved but a decent Vale team were up for the fight and Devante Rodney shot wide when he should have scored before Viktor Johansson thwarted David Amoo with a sprawling stop.

After Rarmani Edmonds-Green’s 80th-minute, goal-saving block on Nathan Smith’s shot, the visitors levelled late on when Amoo made up for his previous miss by hitting the target from close range.

“We made loads of changes tonight,” Warne said. “I have to use these games to give lads minutes so when I need to call them up they are ready.

“I thought our game-management at the end was poor. First half, we were excellent. We put so many goal balls in it was a joke, Wes’s (Harding) and Sads’ crossing was excellent. We did really well and on another day we might have gone in three or four up.

“Port Vale had nothing to lose and their play after we’d scored deserved a goal.”

In added time, Smith and Sadlier somehow contrived not to score when the Vale net was empty while Johansson pulled off the save of the match seconds later, stretching unbelievably to tip the ball around the post after a defensive mix-up had made an own-goal Vale winner seem certain.

On to the shoot-out ... Rotherham went first and Smith scored with aplomb, as did Sadlier and Shane Ferguson before Freddie Ladapo squeezed in his effort.

Vale had matched the home side through Tom Conlon, Brad Walker and Rodney and now Amoo shot hard and straight.

Saved! The Viking earning his Man-of-the-Match award.

Up stepped Joe Mattock. Playing for the first time in more than a month after achilles trouble, the defender is famously the player Warne says he would pick last for his quiz team.

However, the 31-year-old lacks for nothing in football intelligence and outwitted Stone, giving the keeper no chance as he fired Rotherham into the last 16.

“Joe is very popular in the dressing room so for him to get the winning penalty was good,” his boss said.

“I was a bit nervous, I am not going to lie. I don’t like shoot-outs, I said to Rich (number two Barker), we could end up going through the pack with Viktor taking one. The standard of the penalties was very impressive.

“My goalie coach (Andy Warrington) and analyst (Carl Edwards) can take credit for the one Vale missed because we had an idea where their players would put the ball. My analyst had done the work.

“They said Amoo would go down the middle and he did, hence why Andy and Carl were waving at each other like they were in love.

“It says a lot that our man of the match was the goalkeeper. He performed really well and on another night we might not have gone through.”

But go through they did and now it’s on to the FA Cup and then back to the league where the Millers stand at the top of the pile.

“The lads have been in good fettle,” Warne said. “We could have had more points. I don’t think we have been lucky in games. In fact, I think it has been the other way if anything. The run we’re on is a nice thing.

Rotherham haven’t lost since the home game against Fleetwood Town on September 11. “That seems a long time ago,” the manager said.

Mattock left the pitch with his face bathed in smiles. Here’s a quick quiz question for him and all of us ...

Just how long can this exceptional squad remain unbeaten?

The answer to that is entirely in the Millers’ own hands.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson 9; Wes Harding 8, Michael Ihiekwe 7 (Rarmani Edmonds-Green 64, 6), Joe Mattock 6; Kieran Sadlier 8, Ollie Rathbone 7 (Mickel Miller 64, 6), Hakeem Odoffin 6, Jamie Lindsay 7, Tolaji Bola 5 (Shane Ferguson H-T, 7); Josh Kayode 6 (Freddie Ladapo 76), Will Grigg 6 (Michael Smith H-T, 7). Subs not used: Josh Chapman, Jake Hull.

Port Vale (3-5-2): Aidan Stone 8; Nathan Smith 7, Leon Legge 7 (Danny Amos 74), Ryan Johnson 7 (Aaron Martin 59); Lewis Cass 6, Ben Garrity 6 (Scott Burgess 59, 6), Brad Walker 6, Tom Conlon 7, Dan Jones 6 (Mal Benning 59, 6); Devante Rodney 6, Dennis Politic 6 (David Amoo 59, 7). Subs not used: Lucas Covolan, Ellis Jones.

Goals: Smith 56 (Rotherham); Amoo 87 (Port Vale).

Referee: Peter Wright (Merseyside): 6

Attendance: 1,560 (148)

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The last-16 draw for the EFL Trophy will be shown on Sky Sports after the televised Coventry City v West Bromwich Albion fixture on Saturday. The competition remains split into northern and southern sections and ties will be played in the week commencing January 3.

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