Rotherham suffered a fourth defeat in five games as they went down 1-0 at Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Boss Neil Redfearn, who is now the first Millers manager since Tom Johnston in 1958 not to win any of their first five games, saw improvements in his side from Saturday's performance at Derby, but results went against them and Stewart Downing's only goal of the game leaves them five points adrift of safety.
Here are five things we learned from the game
Redfearn doesn't know his best side
With five changes in each of the last two games
Neil Redfearn's selection policy is reminiscent of his predecessor
and the new boss is clearly struggling to find his best – or most
competent – XI. There were a few surprises with his side at the
Riverside, particularly the omission of Richie Smallwood, but no one
could complain after Saturday's showing at Derby. Frazer Richardson
came in at right-back, Harry Toffolo dropped to left-back, Tom Thorpe
replaced Smallwood, Farrend Rawson was recalled and Paul Green also
got the nod. None of them, perhaps other than Thorpe came out of it
with much credit, so Redfearn may not be any further down the line in
knowing he can trust against Ipswich on Saturday.
It's difficult to implement a passing style when you can't keep the ball
You have to feel for Redfearn. Here he is trying
to stamp his authority on his new side, wanting them to play a game
that is based on ball retention and passing, yet he is being let
down by players who are either not good enough or woefully short of
confidence. On numerous occasions the Millers gave the ball away when
under no pressure and they did it even more often when they were
being closed down. They always seemed to be hurried, over-hit or
under-hit so many passes and were not strong enough to hold off
challenges. Grant Ward's pass that led to the opening goal would have
been a brilliant one had he been playing for Middlesbrough, but there
was no such incisiveness from him or any other Miller going forward.
It might be back to the drawing board.
Jordan Bowery encapsulated in one moment
Rotherham's best chance of the night came when
Jordan Bowery was through on goal after a defensive slip. Yet,
despite the promising position, especially after his first touch saw
him close in on a good angle, there was not one moment where you had
confidence that he would score. His second touch took him more in the
direction of the corner flag, and he was soon closed down with his
shot skewed wide. And there went Rotherham's only real chance of the
night. Bowery, the Millers' record signing at the time of his
purchase from Aston Villa, is yet to provide anything like a return
on that money. And a £300,000 striker should be expected to at least
hit the target from such a chance.
Middlesbrough v Rotherham: https://t.co/0IgFXWjsaG via @YouTube— Rotherham United (@OfficialRUFC) November 4, 2015
Middlesbrough could have not played a goalkeeper and still not lost
It's not a new thing, but it was rammed home again
at the Riverside, the Millers' lack of quality going forward is
frighteningly bad. When they did manage to keep the ball, they
enjoyed lengthy spells of possession, especially in the second half,
but did nothing with it. It was as if there was an invisible wall
midway through Middlesbrough's half that Rotherham neither had the
imagination or quality to get around and instead turned back. Bowery's
chance came as a result of a defensive slip and Boro goalkeeper Dimi
Konstantopoulos had just one save to make – a routine stop from
Paul Green in the first half. At no point throughout the game was
there a sense that the Millers could nick a goal, despite the home
crowd getting on their side's back, and it was all too easy for them.
Ipswich is now a massive game
Five points adrift from safety and back on home
soil, the Millers' clash with Ipswich on Saturday now becomes a
massive game and one that Redfearn's men have to take something from.
Easy then, you know, it's only Ipswich, play-off semi-finalists last
season, an impressive strike force. Although they appear to be a far
cry from the side made the top six last term, they are three games
unbeaten and the targeting of this game as one to take points from
shows just how bad their plight is.
