Player ratings and match stats from Blackpool 4 Rotherham United 0
Millers writer Paul Davis gives his verdict as Matt Hamshaw’s men sign off for 2025 in sorry fashion in their League One clash at Bloomfield Road last night.
Millers (3-4-1-2)
Cameron Dawson: 4
Should have done much better with the first two Blackpool goals. Beaten too easily.
Jamal Baptiste: 6
One of Rotherham's better performers until he was unlucky to be sent off. It looked like a full-blooded but fair challenge. Hamish Douglas: 5
Struggled once or twice but gave everything for the cause.
Zak Jules: 4
Had been playing well since his comeback from injury but he dipped here when the visitors needed him to step up as a senior member of the team.
Denzel Hall: 6
Put in a shift. You could see his frustration as things were going wrong for his team.
Dan Gore: 6
Behind some of the few good moments the Millers had. A very good player suffering from what was going on around him.
Joe Powell: 5
Didn't play well but didn't hide either. An honest pro.
Reece James: 6
Decent. Has put a dodgy start to the season behind and consistently made a contribution in the last three months. Good attitude.
Ar'Jany Martha: 4
Time someone of his talent dominated a game rather than decorated it. Has been a peripheral figure since his World Cup Finals qualification with Curacao.
Kion Etete: 4
Showed a good touch at times but he was never a goal threat and maybe there were others putting their bodies on the line more.
Jordan Hugill: 3
Little impact in the time he was on the pitch before a broken nose ended his evening early.
The subs Dru Yearwood (for Hugill 38): 5
No real low points yet no high ones either. Okay at best, okay at worst.
Joe Rafferty (for Douglas 74): NA
Steady. No frills, no issues.
Sean Raggett (for Jules 74): NA
Lacking game time and the rust showed.
Liam Kelly (for Gore 74): NA
Still comfortable on the ball. He just can't play at the pace he once did.
Josh Ayres (for Etete 74): NA
A game but limited display. Had no real effect.
Not used: Ted Cann, Shaun McWilliams.
Blackpool (5-3-2): Bailey Peacock-Farrell 7; Danny Imray 7 (Scott Banks 65, 6), Olly Casey 7, Fraser Horsfall 7, James Husband 7 (Andy Lyons 74), Zac Ashworth 7; Josh Bowler 7, Albie Morgan 7 (Jordan Brown 74), George Honeyman 7 (Lee Evans 74); Ashley Fletcher 8 (CJ Hamilton 84), Tom Bloxham 8. Subs not used: Franco Ravizzoli, Emil Hansson.
Goals: Bowler 11, Imray 19, Fletcher 62, Bloxham 90+4 (Blackpool)
Referee: Ollie Yates (Staffordshire)
Attendance: 9,636
Opposition view
“We’ve done well and have had some good performances in recent weeks, but I think there’s loads more to come. We can get better at pretty much everything.
“We’re seeing in moderation what I want us to be about. I want us to do it more consistently.
“It was a really tough game, and we knew it was going to be a tough game.
“I actually don’t think we started the first half that well, but we showed moments of quality to get us ahead. They’re always a dangerous side - I feel Matt's lads had a right good go for him tonight.
“We had to win a lot of duels and a lot of headers - there’s a lot of blood in the dressing room. It was blood, sweat and tears, but that’s the way Rotherham test you.”
- Blackpool boss Ian Evatt
The stats
Possession: Blackpool 60 per cent, Millers 40
Goal attempts: Blackpool 14, Millers 11
On target: Blackpool 6, Millers 4
Touches in opposition box: Blaxkpool 21, Millers 13
Corners: Blackpool 6, Millers 3
Fouls committed: Blackpool 11, Millers 14
Final word
A rotten way to end the year. Five defeats after nine games unbeaten. What's gone wrong? Concerning times.