Rotherham United 2-1 Derby County
0-1 Gary Teale (11)
1-1 Paul Warne (44)
2-1 Kevin Ellison (65)
Don Valley Stadium: 4,345
Derby County (4-5-1):
Stephen Bywater [6] - GK - Had no chance with Rotherham's two goals. Made some good saves and came out of his area a couple of times to sweep up behind his back four. Released the ball early to the back line or wide men frequently but his kicking was poor.
Paul Connolly [5] - RB - Struggled to impose himself defensively and should've done better in the build up to Rotherham's winning goal. Looked uncomfortable going forward, didn't support Lee Croft effectively, and his crossing was poor. As captain, was unable to lift the Rams who were second best to the Millers all over the pitch for 70 minutes.
Miles Addison [5] - CB(R) - Was not at his best and wasn't able to command defensively as he normally does. Hardly tackled, didn't win many headers, just played a fairly solid game covering behind Jake Buxton. Caused a nuisance in the Millers' penalty area in the last 15 minutes as the Rams chased the game.
Jake Buxton [6] - CB(L) - One of the few Derby County players to emerge from this game with any credit. Dominant in the air, strong in the tackle, brought a no-nonsense style of defending that his team mates in the back four were unable to match. Still commits unnecessary fouls and was fortunate not to be booked. Brought a brilliant save out of Andy Warrington in the Millers' goal with a thundering header late on. Based on this performance, Buxton won't be the one making way for Shaun Barker.
Dean Moxey [5] - LB - Competed well but was hit and miss. Made some good tackles but also missed a few and conceded too many free-kicks. Strong in the air. Got forward well but in a disjointed attack was unable to link effectively with Gary Teale and Ben Pringle and gave the ball away too often. Was narrowly wide with a long range shot late on.
Lee Croft [5] - RW - Did fantastically well to run from the halfway line before pulling back a measured pass for Teale to score the opening goal. Unfortunately that was the only thing of note Croft achieved in the game. Starved of possession through Derby's inability to keep the ball, when he did get it he tried to do too much allowing Rotherham's defenders time to get their tackles in. The goal assist aside, Croft's final ball was poor. Unlucky not to score when his header was cleared off the line by Nick Fenton in the second half.
Stephen Pearson [5] - CM(R) - Struggled to get into a game that bypassed him for the most part. Predominantly left-footed, Pearson looked uneasy on the right-side of the central midfield trio and gave the ball away too often. Only started to break forward in the last 15 minutes when he attempted to step up a gear but by then it was too late. Needed to step up from the 1st minute.
Robbie Savage [6] - CM - The most impressive of Derby's midfield, even Savage had a poor game by his standards. Passed the ball better than his colleagues but was forced to rush things and conceded possession due to the lack of cohesion and work rate around him.
Ben Pringle [5] - CM(L) - Like Pearson the game largely passed him by, but it's unfairt to be too critical of the young lad when his senior and more illustrious colleagues were unable to impose themselves against League Two opposition. Unlike Pearson though, Pringle did at least make the runs to get box to box but his forward runs were mostly not spotted by his team mates. Needed too much time on the ball which caused him to lose possession frequently. Unlucky not to get on the end of a lovely Gary Teale cross when Dale Tonge made a brilliant last gasp clearance in the first half. Had the ball in the net soon after the restart only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Gary Teale [6] - LW - Finished very well from just inside the penalty area for the opening goal of the game. Always looked the most likely Rams player to make things happen but saw too little of the ball as Derby's fluent passing from previous games deserted them. Like Croft, with too little support and possession, he tried to do too much himself when he did have the ball which made it easy for Rotherham's defenders to dispossess him. Pushed up front as Derby switched to 4-4-2 to chase the
game in the last 20 minutes but was unable to make an impact as a striker.
Steve Davies [n/a] - SC - Wasn't really on the pitch long enough to make an impact. Picked up a hamstring injury and was substituted on 15 minutes.
Substitutes:
Luke Varney [6] - SC (for Davies, 15) - Looked bright and lively and certainly worked hard as the lone striker. At times Varney's first touch was woeful, but at others he showed good control. Looked like he would've been able to link play well if any midfield players or wingers had pushed forward enough to support him. Needed the ball played into his feet as there's little he could do with balls fired in at his throat.
Jay McEveley [n/a] - LW (for Pringle, 81) - Not really on the pitch long enough to make an impact on the left wing. Surprising that Nigel Clough opted for this combination as I'd expected McEveley to slot in at left-back with Moxey moving into the wide left-midfield role. Had the best chance to equalise when clean through late into stoppage time but his fierce shot was well saved by Warrington.
Unused substitutes: Saul Deeney, Dean Leacock, Shaun Barker, Arnaud Mendy.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Pablo Mills, playing a holding role in central midfield for the Millers, was deservedly named Man of the Match...