Season Review 05/06 - September
Last updated : 21 May 2006 By Deano
An early start awaited the team at Vale Park to start the month as some of us travelled down to England's game in Cardiff kept in touch with the other usual suspects that had made the journey to watch the Millers.
The Millers were very unlucky by all accounts that day, Lee Williamson hitting the post early on, having Shaun Barker harshly dismissed and finally going down 2-0. Barker's card was later rightfully recinded. Meanwhile, Deon Burton's electric early season form, which saw him net five goals in seven games, including a hat-trick earned him a nomination for Sky Sports Powerade player of the month for League One ahead of the visit of Gillingham.
A power failure saw a threat to the match being abandoned but minutes before the start order was restored and the generator fixed! The team didn't disappoint and went on to hit top gear in the second half, netting three times. Paul McLaren fired the opener whilst Burton and Butler combined neatly for the second and third goals in the final 10 minutes to seal victory.
Following that game though chairman Peter Ruchneiwicz sparked controversy with an ill-timed call to Radio Sheffield's Praise or Grumble, talking about the lack of support at home games. This sparked a heated debate on our message boards with Ruchneiwicz himself sending an email response.
Just days later unsettled winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce made a three month loan move to Southend, with a parting shot at the fans and the club, claiming he'd been frozen out.
With a trip to Nottingham Forest looming, off the field rumblings were rearing a head. Forest had lost five out of seven with Gary Megson feeling the heat, but Rotherham's record at the City Ground leaves alot to be desired and this time wasn't about to get any better. Jack Lester returned from injury after nine months out to set up the points for the home side. After a niggly game, 15 minutes from time Forest went ahead. Cutler only parried Kris Commons' fierce long-range strike and Lester pounced, pushed it around the goalkeeper and was brought down by Cutler. He stepped up and made no mistake with the spot-kick. The Millers pressed but two minutes from time Commons sealed the game for Forest with a lucky strike. He swung in a cross from the touchline which deceived Cutler and floated into the top corner.
That 2-0 defeat had seen frailties creeping into the players game at the back and after another defeat of the same scoreline against West Yorkshire neighbours Leeds in the Carling Cup second round, newly-promoted Southend were the next to take advantage of that the following week at Millmoor. Campbell-Ryce wasn't alowed to play however within 20 minutes we slipped two goals behind thanks to Mark Bentley and Adam Barrett, but managed to pull level before the break. McLaren aimed a free-kick for skipper Colin Murdock and he headed Rotherham's first before Deon Burton was brought down in the area by Barrett and the striker scored from the spot himself. But Mick Harford was left fuming as Southend rallied late on totake three points back to Essex. Wayne Gray was thrown on six minutes from the end and headed in a Kevin Maher free-kick with his first touch, before being brought down in the area and scoring his second from the penalty spot as the Millers piled forward looking to equalise.
Three defeats in a row meant a Tuesday night trip to Hartlepool and to end the month looking to stop the rot. A good boozy day out, but an uninspiring 0-0 affair (yes it was that boring!) meant a slippery end to September and a tricky trip to Brentford to start October, which would also include a banana skin in LDV trophy opponents Accy Stanley - who are they? exactly!.....
