On-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 1 Norwich City 2

Match action. Picture by Dave PoucherMatch action. Picture by Dave Poucher
Match action. Picture by Dave Poucher

SEMI Ajayi's sixth goal in five games wasn't enough to save battling Rotherham United from a cruel Championship defeat at home to leaders Norwich City.

The holding midfielder levelled for the home side in a pulsating second half but the Canaries scored a winner soon after in a contest marred by the shambolic performance of referee Oliver Langford.

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Langford has history at AESSEAL New York Stadium, having been just as poor in a 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic earlier in the campaign.

The Millers battled gamely and never gave up pushing for an equaliser, but they were relieved to see Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buendia miss a couple of late chances on the break.

Rotherham, hit by injuries and suspensions, made the faster start and troubled the leaders with some slick attacking play.

Joe Newell had an early sight of goal but his effort was tame, then striker Michael Smith, after a great link-up between Newell an Anthony Forde, put his 12th-minute header wide.

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Norwich were being hassled out of their stride, although home goalkeeper Marek Rodak had to be sharp at his near post to keep out an Onel Hernandez shot after 23 minutes.

Ben Wiles had the crowd roaring in the 36th minute as he went past three players only for his shot from outside the area to lack the quality of his run.

It was harsh on the Millers when Kenny McLean put Norwich in front on the stroke of half-time, but Paul Warne's men were level eight minutes after the break as Ajayi took the ball from Wiles, turn and bent a low shot into the corner of Tim Krul's goal.

They were level for only four minutes before Ben Godfrey headed in McLean's corner at the back post.

Langford was booed off by home supporters at the end.

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Defeat left the Millers third from bottom in the table, a point behind Reading and Millwall.

Rotherham United (4-1-4-1): Marek Rodak; Zak Vyner, Michael Ihiekwe, Richard Wood, Billy Jones; Semi Ajayi; Anthony Forde, Matt Crooks, Ben Wiles, Joe Newell; Michael Smith. Unused: Lewis Price, Matt Palmer, Joshua Kayode.

Subs: Richie Towell (for Crooks, 62), Jon Taylor (for Forde, 62), Jerry Yates (for Wood, 83).

Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Max Aarons, Christoph Zimmerman, Ben Godfrey, Jamal Lewis; Tom Trybull, Kenny McLean; Emiliano Buendia, Marco Stiepermann, Onel Hernandez; Teemu Pukki. Unused: Michael McGovern, Moritz Leitner, Grant Hanley, Todd Cantwell.

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Subs: Jordan Rhodes (for Pukki, 90), Timm Kose (for Hernandez, 90+1), Mario Vrancic (for Buendia, 90+2).

Goals: Ajayi 53 (Rotherham), McLean 45, Godfrey 57 (Norwich).

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).

Attendance: 11,026 (2,615).

 

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