Latest / Blood, Sweat & Gills / Voice Notes: Rotherham United 1-4 Gillingham
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- Simon Head: Welcome to Jill's 365 Voice Notes. Please leave your message after the tone. Just before seven o'clock on a very chilly Saturday morning on my way down to get on the supporters coach for the trip to Rotherham. Another trip to Yorkshire, hopefully more successful than our last trip. Maybe South Yorkshire will be better for us. Rotherham have had a bit of an indifferent start to the season. Not really a surprise because like us they've had a huge player churn close season. lots of players out, lots of players in. their recent form isn't great. I think it's one win in the last six compared to our three wins in the last six. And they've only got one win at home this season. So you know there's every reason to approach this game with confidence. but a couple of notes of caution. They got a couple of very good forwards for this level, Bradshaw Mullins. And the fact is they got a three-all draw against Salford, who I think will probably get promoted out of this division. But I think today we we traveled with some hope. I think it's gonna be a draw, I think it's gonna be one-all, but You know, we we just really have got to play a lot better than we did the last time we went to Yorkshire. About 20 past seven Saturday morning, Rothrum is the destination today. Looking forward to this one. Can we repeat our last victory at the New York Stadium back in 2017, in October as well, when a certain Tom Eaves found the back of the net in a 3-1 victory? There's certainly no reason why we can't go up here and get something today. Rothrum are unbeaten on their own patch this season, I get that. But they've only won one of their four games. And aside from that hiding we took at York. A couple of Saturdays back, we've been undefeated on the road. And I think it's fair to say that that York City side is better than anything else we faced in League Two so far in this campaign. So I don't see any reason why we cannot go up there and bring back at least a point, maybe all three. Another early morning, not as early for me as those getting the coach though, as today I'll be travelling up to Rotherham on the train. a new ground for me. staying in Sheffield overnight so gonna catch some of the sights and sounds that Sheffield has to offer. that could be interesting. so yeah it's gonna be again I feel a little bit optimistic dare I say it about today. I think it's gonna depend on what team Gareth picks. I mean that sounds the obvious but I feel he's got a decision to make around this midfield. And I think that decision stems around Waldock and Mackenzie. I think Waldock's gonna play. he mentioned post-match, he felt Waldock played well last week. so therefore can't see him being dropped. the question is: does an Alburas away from home come in to just steady us up, sitting in front of the back floor, and his passing range maybe being a bit better than Robbie's? I think that may help us a little bit and make us a bit more solid, particularly as we're away from home. But we shall see. I feel there could be a surprise or two in this lineup. but yeah, c cautiously optimistic. let's see. Rotham have got some experience, they're quite expensively assembled, but If we can maybe keep quiet for twenty minutes, get the away crowd, home crowd, sorry, on their backs, it might do us a favour. Particularly even better if we can score early. So yeah, let's let's let's go up there with positivity and optimism. Another new ground for me, which would be nice. Slowly getting there on this ninety-two business. so yeah. Looking forward to it. Up the Jules. Safely arrived at New York Stadium. Sat in my seat behind the goal. Lovely stadium this. Neat, compact, modern stadium. Team users in. I think there's just the one change from last time out. Seeing former Captain Little return to the side in base of what we think is an injured McCleary. It's gonna be interesting to see the dynamic in midfield. I think a wall dog of the three will be playing a more advanced role. And in fact, in that more advanced role, he's flourished in recent games. Bench looks pretty strong as well. All options are covered there. Going to be a tough game, this, I think. Although their home record this season is quite modest, only one win in four games. They've got some good players. Like us, I think they are finding their feet with a new team. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it finishes you know one all and an away point is always a very good point. We are in our seats at what I can only describe as a very smart New York stadium. Yeah, as far as lower league stadiums go, this is very, very nice. It's not too big for the division, it's very modern, but it does have character as well. It's not one of them soulless bowls. But yeah, in terms of team lose, one change from last week, C's. A Marnie Little return to the starting eleven for the first time since opening day. No Gareth McCleary with that back problem. So it means that Harry Waldock will likely operate in a more advanced position. Yeah, not seeing the Rotherham side. But in terms of us, this is certainly a starting eleven and a bench that can get something from this game. But we'll have to earn the right and we'll have to do everything properly, which we didn't do on our last visit to Yorkshire. Poor defensive work by Gilzer as Spence gets it into the danger zone. It's a shot towards goal when it's in the back of the net. And Rotherham have taken the lead. Awful goal to concede there. I'll be honest, I'm not sure what Methos is doing. For me, just heading back to the goalie. I'm not sure what the hell we're doing. Clearly, some confusion. Awful, awful goal. What a dreadful goal to concede, having been the better side for the first 15 minutes or so. We don't deal with a ball out wide, we don't deal with a cross. Beckles and Dobbs, it's an absolute catastrophe between them. And yeah, Paul Mullen isn't a player you want to give a chance to in the 18-yard box and he tucks it away into corner. Work to do, having started well. Shield's done really twin ball wet by Freeman on that right hand side. Can we actually use this to our advantage? Freeman dips it into the box. Masilla get this down. It's gonna be a shot from Hale surely. Yes! And Hale finds the back of the net! And Jills find that equalizer! Out of absolutely nothing. That's an absolutely astonishing finish from Roland Hale. Ball from the right hand side's defended. It loops up. He steadies himself into the box, crashes a volley across the keeper and into the bottom corner. We're level out of absolutely nothing. An absolutely superb equalizer there by Roland Hale. A really sweet volley. Out of virtually nothing, to us all by surprise. And that makes up for the absolute horrendous defensive cock-up for their goal. All to play for. 1-1, Fields back in the game, lovely finish by Hale. But well we've been awful here in all honesty. But we'll take being back in this game, hopefully it gives us a leg up and the posity to move on from this. It's Roberma here for taking in my opinion. Dare one say that's only Hale who can finish like that. And that's why you pay good money for best strikers. Such a cleaner hit, you know, a really fantastic goal. And as I say, that's what you pay the money for, and that's what you expect them to do in that position. Halftime here at the New York Stadium. And that first half, it's fair to say, was probably broke into three-thirds. We actually started the game fairly brightly and played the game in their their third, their half without creating anything clear cut, but then absolutely. Absolutely gift wrapped them and opened them. For 15 minutes after that, we looked really poor. We looked like a tide that had struggled last season. Everything was about battle ball. I said to Nick, I thought we were just a team playing for set plays and territory. But then we get a really good equaliser, courtesy of the right boot at Roland Hale. And after that, we actually took control of the game and probably ended it the stronger. Second half, just about to start. This game's here for the winning if we're good enough. Halftime here at the New York Stadium, one-all. Yeah, I I think we got better as the the game went on and we certainly grew. what was once we equalised and I think we actually finished it half as the better team. catastrophic defensive error gifted them the first goal. Beckles and Dobbs gotta do better than that. Dobbs started very shakily, but I think got better as the game went on. Beckles, you know, not most comfortable on the ball and unfortunately we keep trying to play out from the back but I don't think Rosham are that good a side. aside from the goal, you know they have one shot through ball which Wright made a good save but otherwise haven't really done too much. it's very noticeable that the Rothram crowd are very quick to voice their disapproval when Rosham as they often do pass the ball without really doing much with it. But yeah overall I think that was As good as probably we could have expected after gifted them such an awful goal three to play for. One at half time. interesting game, I thought first five minutes we were okay. pretty much on top and then silly mistake by Beckles, in my opinion, should have just headed it back to Ollie. we're down one one nil. w it looked a real struggle, I'll be honest, from there on. we weren't getting the ball into midfield, we were playing long, we weren't winning the ball up top when we were playing it long. certain players just seem to not be fighting or working hard enough in my opinion. And it looks a real struggle, but then fair play, Nick Freeman, just a little bit of quality, a little bit of effort, got the ball out wide, got it over. And great finish by Ronan Hale, I thought, to get us back in the game. And then since then we've actually been decent, we've probably been the better team again. So I I do feel this one's there for the taking. We just need to keep being positive and try and push on. 'cause I'm not really seeing much from Rotherham. It just seems to be a game that whoever's in the ascendancy or whoever's looking a bit more confident seems to have the momentum and we need to make the most of when we've got that. So hopefully we can kick on the second half. Is someone at the heading in? No, but it's gonna be a chance here for Broadfied to get into the box. He does. There's someone there, Silla to take a shot towards go ho ho! And Silla has found the back of the net and Jills take the lead! Gilles have been up to the cotch, but Silla's put it in the net, and we're two-one up against the runner play, but we're gonna take this. Shows what we can do when we move forward and we're positive. Lead and it's really good from Lemin Silla. In fact, it's a really good goal all over. Bronan Howe first beats a couple of men, spreads it wide. There's a ball in from Nick Freemore with his left foot that finds its way to James Brothy. He gets it into the box. Lamine Silla swivel, bottom corner in front of the Jills fans. We lead 2-1. Another goal for the Gilles here. We take the lead 2-1. Lovely swivel first by Silla. probably against the run of play to be honest. Second half is probably more then but both sides guilty of treating the football like a hot potato. But a really, really good finish by Silla. 2-1 to us. Jill's got a penny. Come on, Randall. Let's put this game further away from them. Ice every goal is shot towards. Go! And it's in the back of the net. He says I'd say the wrong way, but you know what? If he went the right way, I still don't think he's getting it. It's like London buses here at the New York State. It's another goal for the Jills. This time it's a penalty expertly taken by Roland Hale. Silla bursting through, taken down by the keeper, absolutely cast iron penalty. 3-1 to us. It was two and it's now three. There's a brilliant ball in behind. Lamin Siller does brilliantly well to get there in front of the keeper. It's an absolutely nailed-on spot kick. The only thing more nailed on than the award of it was the way that Roland Hale took it into the top corner in front of us, fan. 3-1. About 25 minutes to play. 3-1. Roland Hale penalty. Doubling out balls, Siller onto it. Made a goal, he made the error, bringing him down. A lovely finish with a penalty. Three-one. I think there's still more goals in this first and we keep playing on the break here. Rotherham looks so poor defensively. No penetration from them atsoever. Well in my opinion there Rotherham should be reduced to 10 men. A terrible challenge by Iolpha on the Waldock. Waldok bursting through. Iolfa basically forearms smashed him to the ground. Referee gave a yellow card. For me, that's violent conduct. That's a red card, they should be down to 10 men. Waldok has now been substituted. It looks like he's got a busted nose. Tommy was looking to get his goal for Jalligham after coming back all this time. How cool is that from Tom Eves, experienced centre forward penalty taker? That really it was big game over now. That's 4 1 to the Jills. Second penalty. Second penalty conversion. Second absolute stone wall penalty. Eve scores it. It was a foul on him. Dlates shirt tug. Went over. Red saw it, correctly awarded the decision. And that's a fantastic performance by us. Game's over. That was an exceptional second half from the boys in blue year from the moment Lemie. Silla put us 2-1 in front shortly after our time. We never look back, thoroughly deserving of the three points. If there is such a thing as a Carlsberg afternoon, that was it. Four goals, three points. Goals all scored by strikers. A double for Rona now, which would do him the world of the good. A goal and an assist for Lamin Silla, and Tom Eves off the bench to score his first goal of his second spell. I enjoyed that one. In a word, wow. Didn't see that coming at all. You know, all this talk about the October curse, utter nonsense. This is a completely different side. And we've shown today this is a side that carries a real goal scoring threat. You know, four goals away from home again. You know, we are carrying so much quality in our forward line that this October curse is not going to happen this season, I'll tell you that for nothing. This is a performance against you know, a decent side, which I think will make the rest of the league. Yeah, sit up and take notice of us. Yeah, I'm I'm telling you, I think we are real candidates for promotion this season if we can carry on playing like that. A wonderful afternoon and another 4-1-away win. Doesn't get much better, does it?