Rotherham United fans ‘become seriously concerned’ after their Carabao Cup Second Round exit with a 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town.
Ryan Graydon netted twice two goals as League Two side knocked the Millers out of the EFL Cup with an impressive comeback victory.
Rotherham took an early lead within the first two minutes through Jamie McCart’s goal at Highbury Stadium before Fleetwood struck the post, then found the equaliser with Graydon’s composed finish in the 16th minute.
The 25-year-old Irish forward then sent a well-placed shot past Dawson in the 27th minute to give his side the lead.
Rotherham attempted to get back on level terms, Wilks’ header hitting the crossbar, but Fleetwood held on to advance through to the third round.
Fleetwood (3-5-2): Jay Lynch; Brendan Wiredu, Harrison Holgate, Kayden Hughes; Carl Johnston, Matty Virtue, Elliot Bonds, Danny Mayor (Ryan Broom 74), Mackenzie Hunt; Ryan Graydon (Tommy Lonergan 45, Mipo Odubeko 88), Mark Helm (Phoenix Patterson 74). Subs not used: David Harrington, James Bolton, Finley Potter, Pele Smith, Liam Roberts.
Rotherham (4-4-1-1): Cameron Dawson; Alex MacDonald, Cameron Humpherys, Jamie McCart, Cohen Bramall (Reece James H-T); Jack Holmes (Shaun McWilliams H-T), Hakeem Odoffin, Joe Powell (Liam Kelly 62), Joseph Hungbo (Sam Nombe H-T); Mallik Wilks (Esapa Osong 87); Jonson Clarke-Harris. Subs not used: Dillon Phillips, Zak Jules, Jordan Hugill.
Goals: McCart 2 (Rotherham); Graydon 16, 29 (Fleetwood).
Referee: Ross Joyce (Teesside).
Speaking to the Rotherham club website Steve Evans said: ‘To score in the first minute you’d take that every week but we lost our way because people weren’t doing their job and we stood off a team who are a Division Two side.
‘The first half performance was unacceptable and we were outside the game. They had three or four chances to be fair and we were fortunate to be in a cup tie at half-time.
‘The second half performance was more what we are about, bright and energetic and is what has been missing since the start of the season. But that’s me taking positives. Our supporters won’t take positives they’ll want to know why there was such a difference from the first half to the second half. There were worrying aspects about individual performances.
‘There were a couple of big moments when Mallik Wilks hit the crossbar with a good header and Shaun McWilliams should score that came off the line but you can’t be missing those types of chances. We had a free-kick where Mallik had a great strike that came back out, Sam Nombe should have tapped into an empty net. They are big moments in games. But we’ll go away, re-group and get ready for a tough game on Saturday.’
Questioned why the Millers weren’t scoring, he added: ‘A couple of journalists have told me we’ve had seventy-six efforts at goal in three or four games and two goals which is a statistic that speaks for itself. I don’t know what the first half stats were tonight but the second half we probably had twenty shots at goal and you can’t have that many shots and not score.
‘We’ll keep focused. There will be no post mortems, no people will hang their heads. We understand that the start of the season has been disappointing. Confidence always comes from scoring goals and winning football matches. You can’t have the dominance we had at Wycombe and lose, the dominance we had against Bristol Rovers and only take one point.
‘We need to put a system in place and a plan in place for Saturday that changes that.’
Towards the end of July, Rotherham were 8/1 to win promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt, and while it’s still very early into the League One season, the odds are now at 40/1 having not won any of their opening three league games and currently sit in the relegation zone (21st), drawing 1, losing 2, scored 0 and conceded 3.
Rotherham’s results so far:
Sat 10 Aug (A) Exeter City – League One – (0) 0-1 L (0) – 7,458Tue 13 Aug (H) Crewe Alexandra – Carabao Cup 1 – (0) 2-1 W (0) – 2,182Sat 17 Aug (H) Bristol Rovers – League One – (0) 0-0 D (0) – 9,414Tue 20 Aug (H) Mansfield Town – EFL Trophy – (1) 2-0 W (0) – 2,265Sat 24 Aug (A) Wycombe Wanderers – League One – (0) 0-2 L (0) – 4,272Tue 27 Aug (A) Fleetwood Town – Carabao Cup 2 – (1) 1-2 L (2) 1,744
Fleetwood boss Charlie Adam said:
“I’m delighted, I thought that first 45 was the best we have played since I have come through the door, the chances we created were very, very good, full credit to the lads, we were very, very good.
“It will be a big surprise to a lot of people the way that we have gone about and asked questions of a very good Rotherham side, I am very delighted to get to the next round.
“We were very direct and played very well, we showed both sides of the game and nobody can complain that we didn’t deserve to go through to the next round, we have good players and we have done the ugly side.
“We can talk about our flair players and the attacking side of the game but we have to give credit to every single player at both ends of the pitch. We’re going along nicely, we have a good rhythm going at the minute and when you win football matches you just want the next one to come as soon as possible.”
On individual performances…
“I had a good, long chat with Harrison Holgate in the summer, I told him my thoughts but so far this season he has given me exactly what I have asked and he has responded to me in a right manner, he has never, ever sulked, and he performs exactly how we want in training and has been magnificient and I am so glad he is getting the performances.
“The whole back five and the goal-keeper all deserve credit, it is so happy to keep everyone happy as I can only choose 11 players but we have found solutions to some questions and when we ask more questions my players are answering them.
“Ryan Graydon was excellent once again before he had to come off, his movement, his hold-up and everything about himself on the pitch has been really, really good, he has been unplayable.
“When you have technical players like Helm and Mayor behind him but in the end I can’t fault any player, the subs that came on and then the ones starting all worked towards the principles that we have given to them.”
On the group’s attitude…
“We have had an 18 year old kid playing at left centre-back, he doesn’t play like a kid though, you always have reservations on the ages but when I speak to my staff about him and when he is in training you can see he
“Tonight was a massive test and I thought he was excellent, that is exactly what we ask from the players young and old, if you’re good enough you will get the opportunity, Kayden Hughes should be really proud of his performance.
“I want a big tie in the next round, I want an away tie against the big, boys, against some of the best so my lads can become the best versions of themselves and they can challenge themselves, who-ever we get we will show the upmost of respect too because they deserve this opportunity to be in the next round judging off our past two performances.”
The gaffer’s initial reaction 🗣️ #OnwardTogether | @Charlie26Adam pic.twitter.com/3G2ArPZx2O
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) August 27, 2024
As mentioned, some Rotherham fans say they have ‘become seriously concerned’ after Carabao Cup exit with defeat at Fleetwood, here’s the Twitter reaction…
@CharlieEwanHawk: this wasn’t “just one of those nights”, that was absolutely fucking garbage, sticking to the same shite tactics that haven’t worked all season, that starting back 4 is suicide. we could sign another 5 and it’ll be shite still. change needed already. half arsed twats. #rufc
@joshcarpenter93: Any chance of Evans signing someone creative. Apart from Wilks and Nombe were hit and hope & a really, really bad watch. There’s minimal quality going forward in that side baring the two I’ve mentioned. Some truly dreadful signings. #rufc
@Dean_Webster94: Seriously concerning.
@nathc92: Promised a promotion push and we’ve got a fucking right back that’s 2 ft fat as fuck and can’t run wtf are we doing recruitment wise our best player is a 35 years old cm… over 2 million came in in transfers and we’ve spent fuck all. No football just size 10 straight through it.
@Jamiebagshaw1: I swear if he comes out telling us how fortunate Fleetwood were and we laid siege on there goal my head will be on mars.
@teamslikerufc: Terrible, all credit to Fleetwood though cos they played like they wanted to win, we just turned up for a night out. We’ve nowt to come in our next 4 games, be lucky if we get a point.
@wainwrightmj: It’s bad this..
@JoeIinton: Nah… this is depressing
@Zee80Thompson:That was worryingly poor, pathetic performance 😡Fletwood deserved the win. The end.#rufc
@PursgloveRyan: Another year without a win away then…
@Ben_R_Walker: The only positive 4 me was finding a cracking chicken shop in Blackpool few hours later after a gallon
@__IrufcI__: Don’t sign anyone by Friday then lose on Saturday I think Steve will start getting twitchy about leaving #rufc
@bgannrufc: Doesn’t sound like there’ll be any incomings, but let’s be real if we don’t bring in both a number 10 and a creative midfielder there’s no point even bothering with this season. #rufc
@CallumSwiftUTM: rotherham, our last league away win was november 2022, that’s over 660 days ago. something has got to change. #rufc
@craigthemiller: No passion commitment or desire to win last night !!!! The quality was there in flashes !!!! We can’t keep using the same excuses , JCH was shit and not interested hugill was crying out to come on pitch side , mccart and Alex McDonald need to be replaced both very poor #rufc
@harry_pash13832: Until Stewart and the Dinosaur board go, nothing will change #rufc
@MrGreenGeog: Formation is appalling. 4-2-4 isn’t working! Absolutely shocking. We scraped a win against Mansfield last week. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out thw formation is putting us under pressure. Sort it Evans!
@Danny260214: Embarrassing, we need atleast another 4 in before Friday or we will be lucky to finish mid table, some of these lads simply are not good enough
@tbaldwin1992: Shambles! 🤦♂️
@maxdalby8870: The whole club is in bits. Tony needs to either open is wallet or sell up. Simple
@SABarlow1976: Same old, just hoof ball and hope for knock downs. This is embarrassing how we have gone back to this type of football! Get ready for Evans …. We dominated etc… doesn’t change the lack of preparation and again 1/2 time changes show you the team is not prepared properly again!
@joegilbert1605: Let me guess. Fans walking away wondering how you haven’t won the game despite dominating 🥱
@abs_rufc: still can’t win away 🥲
@jleerufc1925: Seen us play better under Richardson. Shocking #rufc
Interesting one that https://t.co/Zxyb7gSmWC pic.twitter.com/4S4DTOPrP2
— Reece Donnelly (@ReeceDSport) August 27, 2024
Every time #RUFC pic.twitter.com/PzMVwA45cz https://t.co/itFS7DT1Bf
— The_RUFC (@The_RUFC) August 27, 2024
