Season Review 05/06 - October/November
Last updated : 24 May 2006 By Deano
After a disappointing end to September for the team, Deon Burton returned to his old club on hot form from a personal perspective, and it was the striker who gave the Millers an early lead as he headed in a route one clearance past the on-rushing Stuart Nelson. However the lead lasted just three minutes, until Kevin O'Connor equalised with a penalty, before Isiah Rankin's close-range strike knocked the wind out of Rotherham's sails and condemn them to a 2-1 defeat.
The following Saturday's local derby clash with Barnsley was called off due to International call-ups so this meant the team travelled to Scunny looking for a first win in six. Not before the fans, marshalled by our own Brinnieboy, decended on Millmoor to spruce up parts of the ground on the first of our painting days. Just the first of many testing times the fans would help the club throughout the season.
A 2-2 draw at Glanford Park, with the team in the box seat until McLaren's red card, was a disappointment as they looked to get back to winning ways. The game saw a 55 minute debut for Barry Conlon who penned a loan deal from Barnsley and a decent performance from recent arrivial Grant Leadbitter from Sunderland. An embarassing 3-3 draw and penalty shoot out win in the LDV Vans trophy against Accrington left many worried as the early season promise evaporated, only Mark Newsham rescued extra time with a super injury time header.
With Lee Williamson sidelined and recovering from a potential brain scare and breathing problems, the team was found wanting in the middle of the park. Two more home games saw the side pick up just a point, Conlon opened his account to snatch a last minute equaliser against Swansea before the re-arranged game against Barnsley ended in a single goal defeat. The club couldn't buy a win and a trip to lowly Milton Keynes coudn't turn around fortunes either. Andy Monkhouse bundled in the opening goal but Camara levelled late on for the home side leaving Rotherham hanging on for a point.
As November began Mick Harford was definately feeling the strain, as his underachieveing squad let him down again prior to Bonfire Night. Old boy Richie Barker provided the fire works with a hat trick including a last minute winner as Mansfield won through 4-3 in the FA Cup leaving a dwindling Millmoor crowd stunned.
Days later Grant Leadbitter returned to Sunderland with a shin injury, Paolo Vanessa signed for Barnet and we crashed out of the LDV to Macclesfield. Then in an all too familiar story Colchester left Millmoor with three league points, Chris Iwelumo netting the winner, before we travelled to Oakwell for the return game against the Dingles, step forward Mr Kettle.....
The Millers arrived with a dismal record of nine league outings without a win, but flashed an early warning when striker Martin Butler burst forward after five minutes but his shot was straight at keeper Nick Colgan. Leading scorer Burton should then have done better with another break forward but, after carving out an opening, he crashed his shot high over the bar. Paul McLaren then curled in a testing free-kick that caught out the defence and keeper Colgan, leaving Shaun Barker to steal in and volley home from close range.
But referee Kettle left Rotherham down to ten men when he sent off Burton in the 56th minute for his second booking when he dived after a challenge from Watt.
As Barnsley tried to make the extra man count Rotherham almost caught them on the break when new loan signing Paul Evans coaxed a full length save from Colgan with an angled drive. The returning Lee Williamson was then dismissed, along with Mick Harford and Colin Murdock after the whistle, by which time Barnsley had levelled but Watt's header was about 10 yards behind the line when Cutler pounced on it!
Despite that decent performance in a game where the lads were robbed, a shocking display by the team, but one of the best away atmosphere's of the season at Walsall, saw us go down 3-1. Will Hoskins got the only reply with a late header. As the team faced December on an alarming slide, Harford was tearing his hair out - up on an FA diciplinary charge and facing a six pointer at Millmoor against Swindon....
| Anyone for a spot of painting?! |
