Rotherham United 1 Sheffield United 0 ... Millers players ratings and the thoughts of manager Matt Taylor

The sides met at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Tuesday night.
Cameron Humphreys in action for Rotherham United against Sheffield United. Picture: Kerrie BeddowsCameron Humphreys in action for Rotherham United against Sheffield United. Picture: Kerrie Beddows
Cameron Humphreys in action for Rotherham United against Sheffield United. Picture: Kerrie Beddows

THE MILLERS (3-5-2)

Viktor Johansson: 8

Solid and sharp throughout with one wonder-save thrown in for good measure.

Cameron Humphreys: 8

Part of a back three that did very well together. Showed his usual poise in possession and pulled off a goal-saving block.

Grant Hall: 8

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Beaten once by Daniel Jebbison early in the second half but other than that barely put a foot wrong

Tyler Blackett: 8

Very, very good. Can play and can compete. Did both against the Blades.

Tolaji Bola: 8

Impressive. Had the engine to last all game and was good defending and going forward on his ‘wrong’ flank.

Cafu: 8

His best display so far. Class in possession and has a real shot on him.

Ben Wiles: 6

Still finding his feet after ankle surgery.

Ollie Rathbone: 8

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Typical Ollie. A scurrying, snapping influence with and without the ball.

Cohen Bramall: 6

Used his pace well to snuff out danger at times. Needs to leave the free-kicks to Cafu.

Jordan Hugill: 7

Won everything in the air.

Andre Green: 6

What a goal! Other than that, showed good signs without actually playing too well.

The subs

Georgie Kelly (for Green 53): 6

Really put himself about. The Blades defenders knew he was there.

Ciaran McGuckin (for Hugill 58): 6

Showed a good turn of pace. Ran hard.

Hakeem Odoffin (for Cafu 58): 7

A big physical presence.

Curtis Durose (for Rathbone 64): 5

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A touch tentative at times. Have seen better from a talented young man.

Jamie McCart (for Grant Hall 68): 6

Steady. Did what he had to do.

Jake Hull (for Tyler Blackett 78): NA

Leiwi Abraham (for Bramall 84): NA

Hamid Seisay (for Wiles 84): NA

Josh Ayres (for Cameron Humphreys 84): NA

Not used: Dillon Phillips, Ben Hatton, George Giwi, Rylee Grove.

Blades (4-3-2-1): Wes Foderingham; George Baldock (Nickseon Gomis 78), Chris Basham (Frank Maguire 78), Jack Robinson (Antwoine Hackford 78), Yasser Larouci (Connor Barratt 78); Harrison Neal, Ollie Norwood (Charlie Staniland 39), Ben Osborn (Jili Buyabu 78); Andre Brooks (Sai Sachdev 78), Iliman Ndiaye (Josh Smith 78); Daniel Jebbison (Billy Blacker 78). Subs not used: Jordan Amissah, George Dickinson.

Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).

Goals: Green 11 (Rotherham).

Attendance: 7,216 (3,779).

OPPOSITION VIEW

“Both sides had chances. We could have done better with a few. Their goal is a fluke.”

- Blades assistant manager Stuart McCall

FINAL WORD

Encouraging. A proper pre-season workout.

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MATT TAYLOR TALKS

The game:

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“Regardless of results, in pre-season the most important thing is minutes on the pitch for the players and how they perform in those minutes. We've come through with no injuries. That's another step in the right direction.”

Sean Morrison and Lee Peltier missing the match:

“It's nothing serious. They trained today. With players whose bodies aren't always perfect, to warm up for 75 minutes to get 15 minutes of game-time is almost pointless. For their benefit, they trained fully today and will train fully Thursday and Friday going into the Lincoln City game on Saturday. They're in a good position.”

Pre-season progress:

“I want more in terms of players in. I also want more bodies to be fit as well. We're still a few short. There's close to half a dozen in the treatment room who have a really good chance of being fit for the start of the season. I still want three or four more new players in the building. I've got a feeling of what I want the squad to look like at the end of the window and we're working hard to get there.”

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PLAYER VIEW

“Tonight was about testing ourselves against strong opposition. The gaffer wanted us to be under some pressure to see how we coped. My pre-season has been good so far. I missed the Middlesbrough game just as a precaution because of a bit of tightness in my calf but I’m feeling fine. I'm doing a lot of work with the new physio and staff to strengthen the calf. It should be more robust next season. Hopefully we'll recruit a few more bodies in the next week or two. I think we'll be all right next season.”

- Georgie Kelly