They dominated most of the game, had the best chances, but when they couldn’t grab them they were punched in the end.
This one will have hurt more, however, as he came in a crucial game against relegation rivals and ended their ‘week of the death’ on a bad note.
After missing out on a host of good chances, Harlee Dean’s deflected header in the 88th minute gave the Blues the points, which almost certainly means they’ll stay put.
The Millers weren’t dead and buried in the race to avoid the fall, but back-to-back losses to Coventry and now Birmingham are going to sting.
They are four points behind Derby with two games in hand, but it remains to be seen how much this week has taken from them.
A turbulent period that started nine days ago and spanned games against Huddersfield, QPR and the two Midlands clubs was always going to be decisive for their season and the fact that it ended in two losses could be telling.
There isn’t much time to recover as they are back in action against Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.
Paul Warne’s side had played twice since Birmingham last took the field, so there was an obvious disparity in energy levels.
They could therefore have done away with a certain number of risks that escaped them to take the lead.
Angus MacDonald shot a set piece that went through a sea of bodies just before Michael Smith missed the chance in the first half for the Millers.
From a quick counterattack, Matt Crooks carried the ball down the field, allowing Clark Robertson to cut back to Smith, but the top scorer’s first effort went painfully to the wrong end of the post.
More chances came after the break as Freddie Ladapo was unable to force home a stray ball from a corner, with TV reruns suggesting he was hampered, and then Lewis Wing saw his effort on goal blocked as he ‘he really had to score.
With all those odds gone, Rotherham fans knew what was to come.
In the 88th minute, Dean climbed the highest of a deflected cross and his header deflected from the top of Michael Ihiekwe’s header and entered the top corner.
Rotherham got no response as they slowly slide into yet another relegation.
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Source: www.thestar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-18 13:54:58
