Hello, Tricky Trevor Clarke. ... the story of Rotherham United 3 Doncaster Rovers 2
Welcome to the Millers, Trevor Clarke.
'Tricky Trev', as he is affectionately known in the Rotherham camp, was tricky indeed as Paul Warne's men saw off derby rivals Doncaster Rovers 3-2 in tonight's EFL Trophy clash at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
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Hide AdWinger Julien Lamy was supposed to be the debut show in town. As well as the teenage French flyer did, he had to cede centre-stage to his young Irish teammate also making his Millers bow.
Clarke's short white legs entered the fray for the second half and the left-back was a bundle of bristling, game-changing energy in a wide-left midfield role, setting up an equaliser, earning a penalty and capping his display with the crucial third goal in front of the North Stand.
"He had a bit of everything, didn't he?" grinned manager Warne. "I think he was shocked by the pace when he first came on. He looked a bit mesmerised. Then it all changed for him. It was a tidy finish for his goal.
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Hide Ad"He's ridiculously popular in the dressing room. He's a very likeable lad. For him to score and be involved as much as he was is really good for him."
The Millers went ahead in the 11th minute when Ben Wiles fed Billy Jones on the right. The full-back's killer ball in was an invitation to score and, unfortunately for the visitors, it was Rovers centre-half Joe Wright who accepted it, bulleting a diving header into his own net
Rotherham had been on top but Doncaster had come back into the match by the time Kieran Sadlier despatched a superb 37th-minute effort from the edge of the penalty area past Lewis Price.
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Hide AdRotherham fans had been clamouring to see Lamy in action. Quick and with good control and balance, he showed up well at times and smacked the bar from just over 30 yards on the stroke of half-time.
"I thought Julien did really well on the ball," Warne said. "Out of possession it was a bit more difficult for him. In possession, he hardly put a foot wrong.
"The more times we can get him on the pitch, the more confidence he will gain from it because he had a pretty bad injury in the summer."
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Hide AdRovers served notice of their intention to keep attacking six minutes into the second half when Will Longbottom forced a good save from Price and they were in front seconds later when Wright atoned for his earlier error with a headed goal at the correct end.
Lamy's cross from the right on 56 minutes was perfect and should have been buried by Morris who headed too close to Lawlor and there were fears it might turn into a frustrating evening for the Millers.
"I love my wingers to get in crosses and Julien put in a great ball for Carlton when Carlton should have scored," Warne said.
Time for Trevor.
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Hide AdThe 21-year-old had been stretchered off the field at the club's Roundwood training complex on the day his signing was officially announced back in August.
Now, he introduced himself to New York with a slide-rule through-ball in the 67th minute to allow Morris to slip the ball home and five minutes afterwards won the penalty, as he was felled by Shane Blaney, that should have put Rotherham into the lead.
Morris' tame spot-kick barely troubled Lawlor.
'Tricky' decided to get the job done himself, racing on to the ball and whipping it across Lawlor and into the far corner for the winner just 32 minutes into his Millers career.
Sadly, there were few supporters to witness either debut.
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Hide AdThe attendance of 2,192 - including 557 from Rovers - was more than a 1,000 less fans than Rotherham had taken to the Keepmoat Stadium for a League One duel between the two sides only a month ago.
This was a EFL Trophy, remember. A group game in the competition that everyone dislikes, it seems, except the Premier League clubs allowed to enter their under-21s teams.
The Millers made eight changes to the line-up that had started their last league contest, Rovers nine.
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Hide AdNonetheless, the two team produced an entertaining encounter that Rotherham deservedly shaded.
"I thought it was a pretty exciting game," Warne said. "It was played in a good spirit and five goals is always pretty good for the neutral.
"It let some of my lads on the periphery of the side blow off a few cobwebs. I think we edged it on chances. We had the game on lockdown for 15 minutes but then lost our way a little bit.
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Hide Ad"Going behind early in the second half was a good character test for my players and they passed it."
Clarke played only half the game but his contribution earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.
"There's only one Paul Warne," the home contingent sang towards the end.
There's only one Tricky Trev as well.
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Hide AdRotherham (4-4-2): Lewis Price; Billy Jones, Jake Cooper, Clark Robertson, Joe Mattock; Ben Wiles, Dan Barlaser (Joshua Kayode 73), Shaun MacDonald (Jamie Lindsay 54), Julien Lamy; Freddie Ladapo (Trevor Clarke H-T), Carlton Morris. Subs not used: Laurence Bilboe, Matt Olosunde, Michael Ihiekwe, Akeem Hinds.
Doncaster (4-2-3-1): Ian Lawlor; Brad Halliday (Donervon Daniels H-T), Joe Wright, Shane Blaney, Danny Amos; Anthony Greaves, Madger Gomes; Will Longbottom, Kieran Sadlier (Alfie May H-T), Alex Kiwomya; Kwame Thomas (Jon Taylor76). Subs not used: Seny Diend, Reece James, Ben Sheaf, Jack Watson.
Goals: Wright og 11, Morris 67, Clarke 77 (Rotherham); Sadlier 38, Wright 54 (Doncaster).
Referee: Marc Edwards.
Attendance: 2,192 (557).