The last time Rotherham beat Sheffield Wednesday at home in the
league Harold Wilson was prime minister, Tina Charles was top of the charts and
it cost 8.5p for a pint of milk.
It's been 39 years since Dick Habbin’s only goal of the game gave
the Millers a 1-0 win at Millmoor in March 1976 and although their paths have
not crossed too much there's been plenty of agony for the men in red and white
and joy for those from S6.
Three of the club's most successful managers - Ian Porterfield,
Ronnie Moore and Steve Evans - have all failed to match Jimmy McGuigan's feat
as Wednesday have endured near total domination on this side of the motorway.
That success in 1975-76 was the first of five consecutive seasons
that the Millers and Owls were in the same division as they toughed it out in
the third tier and Wednesday won all four other encounters at Millmoor, with
two 1-0 victories and two 2-1 victories.
When the sides next met two seasons later in 1982 – this time in the
second tier – there was some respite as Emlyn Hughes' men earned a 2-2 draw,
but it was normal service resumed the year after as Wednesday cantered to a 3-0
success in April 1983.
And still the Millers could not get a win as despite a dominant
performance they had to settle for a 1-1 draw as Moore’s side got used
to life in Division One.
One of the most disappointing losses was the following season as
Moore’s men were in the top 10, while Chris Turner’s Wednesday were doomed for
the drop, but it was business as usual and the Owls registered a 2-0 success.
A new ground did not bring a change of luck as the Millers snatched
defeat from the jaws of victory last season in their first league meeting since
2003.
Having beaten the Owls in their new home in the previous season’s
League Cup, optimism was high that this would be their year and in fact it was
the closest they have come to ending their hoodoo.
They were leading 2-1 going into injury time only for a late
capitulation and two away goals to break Millers hearts and send the travelling
support into raptures.
Despite the short turnaround in fixtures – it is only seven months
since that game – it’s a new look Rotherham side, with only four players who
started in March still at the club.
There’s a new manager too, with new Millers boss Neil Redfearn only in charge for a fortnight but he only has to win to elevate himself above some historic names in the club’s past. That is easier said than done.
