Sickness strikes Rotherham United again ... not that you'd have noticed!
INJURY-PLAGUED Rotherham United pulled off their biggest win of the season today despite being hit by illness in the camp for the second time this year.
The Millers were already without any recognised senior centre-halves because of a crowded treatment room as they prepared for this afternoon's League One clash with high-flying Lincoln City.
They went into battle with several players fighting off flu-like symptoms and thumped their fifth-placed opponents 3-0 to climb to 12th spot and extend their unbeaten third-tier run to six matches.
“We've got this virus thing that is going round,” manager Matt Hamshaw revealed. “Jordan Hugill's coughing and sputtering in there.”
Several of Hugill's teammates were also suffering from the bug while one of the scorers, Reece James, pushed himself through the pain barrier after suffering rib damage a week earlier in the FA Cup.
“Reece has put his body through hell,” Hamshaw said. “It's not just him, it's all of them.”
The Millers were rocked by sickness last month and closed down their Roundwood training base on that occasion in a bid to restrict the contagion.
Against the Imps, they produced their best display of the campaign and earned a standing ovation from the AESSEAL New York crowd for a victory that could have come by an even greater margin.
“One thing I've said to the lads, certainly early on this season, is that I don't think we've won as many duels as we should have done,” Hamshaw said. “I felt like we won all of our duels today.
“We've had four really tough games in 12 days. The fact that we've come out in the last of those games with that performance will give huge confidence to the group. They should take confidence, because they are a good team. I've said that all along.
“Look, it's not always going to be like this. There will be times where we level out a little bit, but we're on the right trajectory, as it stands.”
Next up for Rotherham is a trip next Saturday to in-form Luton Town who this afternoon won 3-0 at leaders Stockport County.
Hamshaw has rewarded his players with an extra day off before they begin their preparations for the Kenilworth Road showdown.
“They'll get Monday off and then we'll get back at it on Tuesday,” the boss said.