Smith swoops to hand Millers first Championship win

MICHAEL Smith struck at the death to earn Rotherham United their first win on their return to the Championship at the expense of Paul Hurst’s Ipswich.

After a frustrating and sometimes sad week, Paul Warne’s side stepped up to the mark when it mattered to clinch the points despite having to defend for long periods.

Smith's close-range 90th minute close-range strike to secure the 1-0 victory didn't just deliver a much-needed boost in what is going to be a testing season, it was Warne’s second win over Hurst in three months, the Millers boss triumphing over his former team-mate in the Wembley League One play-off final in May before his departure from Shrewsbury.

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Rotherham had showed only one change from the heavy first-day beating at Brentford, summer arrival Kyle Vassell replacing David Ball in attack, as Warne gave players a chance to redeem themselves.

The first half resembled much of that match at Griffin Park last weekend, minus the goals. The Millers were pressed bac by the slick visitors and it took two good saves by Marek Rodak from Ellis Harrison and Jonas Knudsen to keep the score blank.

Vassell put himself about but nothing was sticking up front and it took until the 44th minute for Rotherham to create their first serious chance. For once they allowed a yard of space in the penalty box but Jon Taylor’s effort deflected effort into the arms of underworked goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Rotherham had succeeded in making the game ugly but needed to show much more in attack kicking towards the kop in the second half.

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The signs were good in the opening minutes. Vassell wriggled clear to zip in a left-footer that forced the keeper to smother and his strike partner Michael Smith went close on the half-volley.

Jon Nolan had followed his former Shrewsbury boss Hurst to Ipswich during the week along with defender Toto Nsiala in a £2 million deal. They were joined by another million pound signing, striker Kayden Jackson from Accrington, in the second period.

The game was much more open. Vassell had a lofted effort shovelled off the line and Rodak went full stretch to keep out Gwion Edwards’ free-kick.

In the 73rd minute both sets of fans joined in a chorus of “to me, to you” in honour of Barry “Chuckle” Elliott, the popular comedian and Millers fanatic, marking his passing during the week. It was a lovely gesture.

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Rotherham finished strongly, with Smith firing just wide and sub Anthony Forde’s snap shot forcing a rather unconvincing save before the winner came in the 90th minute.

Forde swung in a free-kick from tight to the byline and as Ipswich failed to clear, the ball fell to Smith to gleefully fire home.

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy, but it was effective.

Milers: Rodak, Vyner, Ajayi, Wood, Mattock; Taylor (Forde 67), Vaulks, Palmer, Newell (Williams 62); Smith, Vassell.

Ipswich: Bialkowski, Donacien, Nsiala, Chambers, Knudsen, Edwards (Roberts 82), Chalobah, Skuse, Nolan, Ward (Edun 77), Harrison (Jackson 66)

Referee: D. Webb

Attendance: 9,460 (1,345 visitors)