Match Report: Rotherham United 4-2 Crewe Alexandra

Rotherham United secured their first points of the New Year after defeating Crewe Alexandra in an enthralling game at the New York Stadium.

A second-half brace from captain Lee Frecklington ensured the victory after Bradden Inman had given Crewe the lead early on in the match.

Steve Evans made two changes to the side that slipped to a 3-1 defeat against Coventry City on New Year’s Day.

On-loan Bournemouth defender Miles Addison made his debut in place of the suspended Craig Morgan, whilst Ben Pringle returned from suspension to take his place in the starting eleven, replacing Joe Skarz who slipped to the bench.

A familiar face to Crewe fans featured on the Millers’ bench, as Tom Hitchcock came up against his former employers just over a week after playing his last game for the Alex.

The Millers’ opening chance of the game came in the first minute, when Kieran Agard took on a shot from just inside the box after beating Anthony Grant for pace. The effort wasn’t quite as emphatic as Agard’s run though and rolled harmlessly wide of Ben Garratt’s goal.

The visitors’ attacking intent was also clear to see in the early minutes, as Ajay Leitch-Smith took on a mazy run before firing a powerful drive through the centre of the box. The danger, however, was averted by Adam Collin who made a comfortable save. 

The Alex weren’t to be denied though, and in the 12^th minute Bradden Inman gave the away side the lead.

A deep long ball was nodded into the path of Leitch-Smith by Millers’ defender Kari Arnason, and the Crewe forward created some space after outwitting Miles Addison. His left-footed shot bounced back off the upright though, and the chance instead fell to Inman who smashed home from close range.

The hosts fought back valiantly after the goal, and when Ben Pringle played a dangerous ball into the visitors’ box, frontman Alex Revell was unlucky to see his looping header bounce off the upright and away from the on-rushing Agard.

The Millers’ next outstanding opportunity came in the 25th minute. Ben Pringle’s corner was only half-cleared by the Crewe defence but Lee Frecklington’s long range effort was high and wide of the target, much to the relief of the away support behind the goal.

The pressure was now fully on the Alex and it was only a matter of time before Rotherham found an equaliser through Kieran Agard. The goal was scored in the 28th minute when Mark Bradley and Agard combined well before the Millers’ top scorer rolled home past an outstretched Garratt to make the score 1-1.

The home side’s pressure only continued after the equaliser and Lee Frecklington came close to giving the Millers the lead in the 31^st minute, however, the 28-year-old blazed wide from just inside the area.

Rotherham’s first yellow card of the game came just before half-time, when Welshman Mark Bradley hauled down Leitch-Smith who had proved to be a handful in the first-half.

The last chance of the half fell to debutant Miles Addison after Ben Pringle curled in a threatening corner, but the defender’s header sailed wide of the post and the sides went in level at the break.

Half-time: Rotherham United 1-1 Crewe Alexandra

The second-half started where the first half had left off, with a chance for the Millers. This time it was James Tavernier who took on a shot, but he also saw his effort fly past the target and into the crowd.

Despite the home side’s numerous chances and continued pressure, it was in fact Crewe who regained the lead on the stroke of 60 minutes. After some scrappy play in the box, Kelvin Mellor controlled the ball and fired home for the Railwaymen, sending the away support into raptures and once again silencing the home crowd.

As had happened in the first-half though, Rotherham pegged the visitors back. Ex-Crewe loanee Tom Hitchcock drew Mark Ellis into a challenge in the area and referee Keith Hill awarded a penalty.  Lee Frecklington then stepped up to draw the Millers level for the second time in the game and score his first of the match.

Then came the game’s major turning point, a second penalty of the match.

Crewe were given the opportunity to take the lead for the third time when Miles Addison forced AJ Leitch-Smith to ground inside the area. Harry Davis stepped up for the Railwaymen, however, Adam Collin correctly dived to his left and forced the ball out for a corner, much to the delight of the Millers’ faithful.

The tide then began to swing Rotherham’s way, and almost immediately after the penalty save Alex Revell put the hosts in front for the first time in the match.

After some good build up play from Hitchcock, Ben Pringle found himself in acres of space, and with time on his side, fired a pinpoint cross for Revell to steer home, who had intelligently found space in the box.

The momentum was now fully with the Millers and a fourth goal in the 91^st minute all but wrapped up the three points in emphatic style. Tom Hitchcock was once again involved as he thread the ball through to Lee Frecklington who impressively hit home to score his second of the afternoon.

The result sees Rotherham move up to fifth in the play-off spots, whilst Crewe fall further back in the relegation zone.

Full-time: Rotherham United 4-2 Crewe Alexandra

Rotherham: Collin, Bradley (Brindley 90), Arnason, Addison, Tavernier, Agard, Frecklington, Milsom (O’Connor 82), Pringle, Revell, Vuckic (Hitchcock 61)

Unused: Shearer, Skarz, Walker, Rowe

Crewe: Garratt, Tootle, Mellor, Davis, Ellis, Osman, Leitch-Smith (Pogba 81), Moore, Inman, Aneke, Grant

Unused: Martin, Ray, Guthrie, Nolan, Oliver, Evans

Attendance: 7737 (456)