EFL Trophy
Tuesday 7th September 2021
Another game and another abject performance from Doncaster Rovers as they were thoroughly embarrassed and humiliated by a rampant Rotherham United in the Papa John's Trophy.
The 0-6 scoreline is Rovers' joint-heaviest defeat since moving to the Keepmoat Stadium and such was Rotherham's control and capitalisation on sloppy mistakes after the point at which the damage was inflicted, they should have set the unwanted outright record.
Events were described by many long-time fans outside the ground afterwards as 'the worst performance since the Richardson days' and it's hard not to disagree with such comments. Individual errors, naivety and generally just being second best in every area were contributing factors to the shambles.
Fresh from leaving Donny in the lurch on transfer deadline day, Will Grigg inevitably got one of the visitors' six goals whilst Louis Jones' unfortunate own goal and strikes by Mickel Miller, Freddie Ladapo, Jake Hull, Joe Mattock caused the rest of the damage.
Though it is just the Papa John's Trophy - the result and performance will wrankle (certainly with fans who are already unhappy) and it hardly does anything to lift the confidence amongst a group of players who already find themselves bottom of League One, winless so far this term and unable to hit a cows arse with a banjo; it now being more than 11 hours since they last scored a goal!
Rotherham were good value for their victory as they looked dominant in all areas and it's a stark contrast to the same day two years ago when they squandered a lead and succumbed to defeat in another derby day meeting at the Keepmoat!
It was an unseasonably boiling hot night in South Yorkshire and, despite everything which went wrong for Richie Wellens' team on the pitch, the first half (aside from that mad five-minute period when Rotherham scored their three goals) weren't actually as bad as the scoreline suggests.
The Millers were prepared to try their luck from distance and Kieran Sadlier (booed throughout his 45-minute appearance by the childish idiots who perceive football as the pantomime!) forced a low save within three seconds of kick-off, before later whistling a more cleanly-struck shot wide.
Between those two incidents, Ladapo was guilty of some profligate finishing - though his blushes were spared ever so slightly courtesy of an offside flag. Rovers offered some creativity and debutant Jordy Hiwula, appeared lively as he posed a nuisance, forced a save and had a separate shot blocked at the opposite end. Ben Close was also off-target with a speculative attempt from distance.
Things then rapidly unravelled in a five-minute period which killed the game as a meaningful contest, sapped confidence and left Rovers looking utterly embarrassed.
Problems began when Charlie Seaman's intended crossfield pass was far too easily intercepted by Miller who brought the ball down unopposed and darted purposefully down the right flank with it prior to floating a cross towards the back-post area which inadvertently had enough flight and accuracy to beat Jones and instead end up in the net.
A two-goal lead was then quickly established. Dan Barlaser's direct ball forward wasn't dealt with by Branden Horton (appearing at centre-back) and it allowed Ladapo to get a touch on it in a dangerous positon and ahead of an oncoming Jones who subsequently clattered into Horton. It left the Rotherham striker with a routine tap-in.
Things then got even worse by bad fortune on 16 minutes as Hakeem Odoffin let fly with a rasping strike from 35 yards which ricocheted off the woodwork and hit Jones on the back - enough to turn the ball into the net and leave Rovers with a proverbial mountain to climb.
Despite the scoreline, the rest of a first half which was littered with stoppages (including one for a drinks break due to the unseasonably warm weather) saw Doncaster create quite a few openings which, for various reasons, they weren't able to finish.
The offside flag thwarted Rovers on more than a few occasions but when they did legally get into good goalscoring positions, too many players were guilty of being wasteful. Matt Smith couldn't hit the target to end the goal drought in a golden one-on-one opening, nor could Hiwula after he was slipped clean through in brilliant fashion by Tommy Rowe. Close did at least force Josh Vickers into a smart low save but the poor finishing on the whole did nothing to lift any of the gloom.
Rotherham could even have further extended the lead before the interval as the twinkle-toed Tolaji Bola delivered a pin-point cross for an unmarked Ladapo who, despite being only a few yards out and completely unmarked, opted to head the ball rather than put his foot through it, and saw his effort go wide.
Such is the lack of enthusiasm within the Rovers fanbase right now, the boos on the half-time whistle weren't even that vociferous - many, seemingly, couldn't be arsed to muster up the energy because they felt so deflated by what they witnessed.
Sadly, things got no better after the re-start as Rotherham dominated more menacingly and added more damage to the already embarrassing scoreline.
A 3-0 lead became a 4-0 lead on 49 minutes. John Bostock was guilty of losing possession much too easily on the edge of his own box and Grigg, the player who nipped the ball off him, threaded a pass through to Ladapo whose low attempt ricocheted back off the post and straight into the area which Grigg had taken up (unmarked, of course) leaving the Northern Irishman with a simple finish.
It was now starting to become a case of just how many Rotherham might score and with well over half-an-hour to play, equalling or even breaking the record win for an away team at the Keepmoat Stadium looked a distinct possibility.
Things could have got even worse for Rovers when Ladapo saw his curling effort skim the upright following a sweeping counter-attack which began with substitute Ollie Rathbone intercepting a stray pass towards Bostock and then charge forward at a back-peddling defence alongside Grigg.
Mattock was also thwarted thanks to Jones' exceptional save in a set-piece chance before the Rovers 'keeper also denied Ladapo after more good work out wide by Bola.
With so many flaws within Rovers' outfield performance, more damage seemed inevitable and both of Rotherham's last two goals came from corners where, unfortunately, those on defensive duties left an awful lot to be desired - even by the standards of a team being hammered.
A product of Rotherham's academy, Jake Hull got between Seaman and Kyle Knoyle, who'd not long since come off the bench, to head in at the near-post on 67 minutes before Mattock claimed the record-defeat equalling goal on 83 minutes - heading in from the opposite post with his back to goal as Miller this time claimed the set-piece assist.
By this point many of the home fans had long since been streaming towards the exits, and the shambles was best summed up just a few minutes before the sixth goal when Rotherham appeared to withdraw Bola in sympathy at Close being unable to continue for Rovers after suffering a knock.
Only two minutes of injury-time were added on to the humbling humiliation and it nearly resulted in another goal. A short-corner routine resulted in Rathbone receiving the ball outside the box and his rasping goalbound save needed to be palmed away by Jones. Had he not done so and had the net rippled once again, outright history would have been Rotherham's to enjoy!
The game really was a case of men against boys, experience against youth and naivety against knowledge and though there were elements of good fortune in how Rotherham scored a couple of their early goals, a team simply can't make as many mistakes as this Doncaster team did and then expect to be competitive in a football match.
They got battered by a better-managed, more organised and far superior team. The fact that Jake Hull, making his first professional appearance, was able to fit seamlessly into the Millers' team is a sign of both where Rotherham United are at right now and where Doncaster Rovers are at right now - and the contrasts couldn't be any greater!
Thankfully, from a DRFC perspective, it is only the Papa John's Trophy and nobody is going to care too much if the team gets eliminated in the group stage - something which now looks more of a probability than a possibility! But the performance is just a glimpse of the wider problems that are threatening to wreak havoc and lead to further problems and only a naive person would think Harry Potter is coming along with a magic wand and everything is suddenly going to get better.
A lot of soul-searching and deep questions need to be asked and amidst all the further finger-pointing that is surely going to follow in the aftermath of such a humbling humiliation, it's obvious that things just aren't good enough at the club right now - and that's a phrase which has become far too familiar in recent months as it appropriately describes various goings on.
The team which has been put together (seemingly only heading in one direction) is a product of haphazard recruitment and a tight-fisted ownership regime who've progressively lowered the budget over a sustained period - and thus succeeded in slowly sucking the enthusiasm out of many amongst the fanbase!
The board's chosen manager in Richie Wellens shouldn't escape criticism; if anything he should come in for the toughest given his direct influence over the team.
How long he's been in the job is irrespective - as is Covid, injuries, a 'stagnated pre-season' or any other excuses that can be thought up and blamed for the poor start. It doesn't change the fact that in eight attempts he's yet to win a game and yet to seemingly inspire a group of players (some of which he recruited) who've responded with poor displays and find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table.
Injuries and 'bad luck' - such as the deadline day fiasco can be blamed and is a genuine contributing factor, but is his abrasive bordering abusive, straight to the point demeanour and mannerisms, public comments through the press about certain players (notably Omar Bogle who now seems to be an outcast), and touchline outbursts really helping to get the best out of the players he's got at his disposal or is it alienating them?
Results and performances would clearly suggest it's not working right now and, inevitably, if things don't improve pretty damn quickly the murmurs of discontent are only going to grow louder around the Keepmoat - thus creating a toxic backdrop in which the players have to perform.
Those in the football world who've played the game or experience life at a club on a daily basis will have a far better opinion than myself, a mere 'blogger', on what is going wrong and whether Wellens is the right person to help the board achieve whatever their long-term ambitions actually are - something itself which seems to be a mystery!
A clear and long-term strategy for the football club to be successful - and which, importantly, is visible and easy for supporters to understand just doesn't exist right now and that's something which is only going to leave fans disillusioned and drive them away.
If Wellens' style of management is a major contributing factor (and 10 of the 14 players who featured last night were brought to DRFC by him), then the ownership's wisdom in choosing to appoint him in the first instance seriously needs to be called into question - especially when you consider they knew precisely what they'd be letting themselves in for given his previous employment at the club!
Nevertheless, when the same ownership regime has made a string of financially-motivated and cost-cutting decisions over a prolonged period, it also makes you question whether they've got their priorities right on how to create a successful football club, what exactly they want or whether they're just full of bullshit which they expect fans to 'suck up' without asking too many tough questions.
Recent results, performances and now this record-equalling home humiliation at the hands of fierce local rivals (albeit thankfully just in the Papa John's Trophy) suggests things are going backwards at an alarming rate. Having attended more than 1,000 matches in nearly 20 years across various levels, I'm experienced, intelligent and certainly cynical enough to work out that something (and quite possibly more than one thing!) is rotten to the core right now.
And the saddest thing is I can't see anything changing anytime soon!
The 0-6 scoreline is Rovers' joint-heaviest defeat since moving to the Keepmoat Stadium and such was Rotherham's control and capitalisation on sloppy mistakes after the point at which the damage was inflicted, they should have set the unwanted outright record.
Events were described by many long-time fans outside the ground afterwards as 'the worst performance since the Richardson days' and it's hard not to disagree with such comments. Individual errors, naivety and generally just being second best in every area were contributing factors to the shambles.
Fresh from leaving Donny in the lurch on transfer deadline day, Will Grigg inevitably got one of the visitors' six goals whilst Louis Jones' unfortunate own goal and strikes by Mickel Miller, Freddie Ladapo, Jake Hull, Joe Mattock caused the rest of the damage.
Though it is just the Papa John's Trophy - the result and performance will wrankle (certainly with fans who are already unhappy) and it hardly does anything to lift the confidence amongst a group of players who already find themselves bottom of League One, winless so far this term and unable to hit a cows arse with a banjo; it now being more than 11 hours since they last scored a goal!
Rotherham were good value for their victory as they looked dominant in all areas and it's a stark contrast to the same day two years ago when they squandered a lead and succumbed to defeat in another derby day meeting at the Keepmoat!
It was an unseasonably boiling hot night in South Yorkshire and, despite everything which went wrong for Richie Wellens' team on the pitch, the first half (aside from that mad five-minute period when Rotherham scored their three goals) weren't actually as bad as the scoreline suggests.
The Millers were prepared to try their luck from distance and Kieran Sadlier (booed throughout his 45-minute appearance by the childish idiots who perceive football as the pantomime!) forced a low save within three seconds of kick-off, before later whistling a more cleanly-struck shot wide.
Between those two incidents, Ladapo was guilty of some profligate finishing - though his blushes were spared ever so slightly courtesy of an offside flag. Rovers offered some creativity and debutant Jordy Hiwula, appeared lively as he posed a nuisance, forced a save and had a separate shot blocked at the opposite end. Ben Close was also off-target with a speculative attempt from distance.
Things then rapidly unravelled in a five-minute period which killed the game as a meaningful contest, sapped confidence and left Rovers looking utterly embarrassed.
Problems began when Charlie Seaman's intended crossfield pass was far too easily intercepted by Miller who brought the ball down unopposed and darted purposefully down the right flank with it prior to floating a cross towards the back-post area which inadvertently had enough flight and accuracy to beat Jones and instead end up in the net.
A two-goal lead was then quickly established. Dan Barlaser's direct ball forward wasn't dealt with by Branden Horton (appearing at centre-back) and it allowed Ladapo to get a touch on it in a dangerous positon and ahead of an oncoming Jones who subsequently clattered into Horton. It left the Rotherham striker with a routine tap-in.
Things then got even worse by bad fortune on 16 minutes as Hakeem Odoffin let fly with a rasping strike from 35 yards which ricocheted off the woodwork and hit Jones on the back - enough to turn the ball into the net and leave Rovers with a proverbial mountain to climb.
Despite the scoreline, the rest of a first half which was littered with stoppages (including one for a drinks break due to the unseasonably warm weather) saw Doncaster create quite a few openings which, for various reasons, they weren't able to finish.
The offside flag thwarted Rovers on more than a few occasions but when they did legally get into good goalscoring positions, too many players were guilty of being wasteful. Matt Smith couldn't hit the target to end the goal drought in a golden one-on-one opening, nor could Hiwula after he was slipped clean through in brilliant fashion by Tommy Rowe. Close did at least force Josh Vickers into a smart low save but the poor finishing on the whole did nothing to lift any of the gloom.
Rotherham could even have further extended the lead before the interval as the twinkle-toed Tolaji Bola delivered a pin-point cross for an unmarked Ladapo who, despite being only a few yards out and completely unmarked, opted to head the ball rather than put his foot through it, and saw his effort go wide.
Such is the lack of enthusiasm within the Rovers fanbase right now, the boos on the half-time whistle weren't even that vociferous - many, seemingly, couldn't be arsed to muster up the energy because they felt so deflated by what they witnessed.
Sadly, things got no better after the re-start as Rotherham dominated more menacingly and added more damage to the already embarrassing scoreline.
A 3-0 lead became a 4-0 lead on 49 minutes. John Bostock was guilty of losing possession much too easily on the edge of his own box and Grigg, the player who nipped the ball off him, threaded a pass through to Ladapo whose low attempt ricocheted back off the post and straight into the area which Grigg had taken up (unmarked, of course) leaving the Northern Irishman with a simple finish.
It was now starting to become a case of just how many Rotherham might score and with well over half-an-hour to play, equalling or even breaking the record win for an away team at the Keepmoat Stadium looked a distinct possibility.
Things could have got even worse for Rovers when Ladapo saw his curling effort skim the upright following a sweeping counter-attack which began with substitute Ollie Rathbone intercepting a stray pass towards Bostock and then charge forward at a back-peddling defence alongside Grigg.
Mattock was also thwarted thanks to Jones' exceptional save in a set-piece chance before the Rovers 'keeper also denied Ladapo after more good work out wide by Bola.
With so many flaws within Rovers' outfield performance, more damage seemed inevitable and both of Rotherham's last two goals came from corners where, unfortunately, those on defensive duties left an awful lot to be desired - even by the standards of a team being hammered.
A product of Rotherham's academy, Jake Hull got between Seaman and Kyle Knoyle, who'd not long since come off the bench, to head in at the near-post on 67 minutes before Mattock claimed the record-defeat equalling goal on 83 minutes - heading in from the opposite post with his back to goal as Miller this time claimed the set-piece assist.
By this point many of the home fans had long since been streaming towards the exits, and the shambles was best summed up just a few minutes before the sixth goal when Rotherham appeared to withdraw Bola in sympathy at Close being unable to continue for Rovers after suffering a knock.
Only two minutes of injury-time were added on to the humbling humiliation and it nearly resulted in another goal. A short-corner routine resulted in Rathbone receiving the ball outside the box and his rasping goalbound save needed to be palmed away by Jones. Had he not done so and had the net rippled once again, outright history would have been Rotherham's to enjoy!
The game really was a case of men against boys, experience against youth and naivety against knowledge and though there were elements of good fortune in how Rotherham scored a couple of their early goals, a team simply can't make as many mistakes as this Doncaster team did and then expect to be competitive in a football match.
They got battered by a better-managed, more organised and far superior team. The fact that Jake Hull, making his first professional appearance, was able to fit seamlessly into the Millers' team is a sign of both where Rotherham United are at right now and where Doncaster Rovers are at right now - and the contrasts couldn't be any greater!
Thankfully, from a DRFC perspective, it is only the Papa John's Trophy and nobody is going to care too much if the team gets eliminated in the group stage - something which now looks more of a probability than a possibility! But the performance is just a glimpse of the wider problems that are threatening to wreak havoc and lead to further problems and only a naive person would think Harry Potter is coming along with a magic wand and everything is suddenly going to get better.
A lot of soul-searching and deep questions need to be asked and amidst all the further finger-pointing that is surely going to follow in the aftermath of such a humbling humiliation, it's obvious that things just aren't good enough at the club right now - and that's a phrase which has become far too familiar in recent months as it appropriately describes various goings on.
The team which has been put together (seemingly only heading in one direction) is a product of haphazard recruitment and a tight-fisted ownership regime who've progressively lowered the budget over a sustained period - and thus succeeded in slowly sucking the enthusiasm out of many amongst the fanbase!
The board's chosen manager in Richie Wellens shouldn't escape criticism; if anything he should come in for the toughest given his direct influence over the team.
How long he's been in the job is irrespective - as is Covid, injuries, a 'stagnated pre-season' or any other excuses that can be thought up and blamed for the poor start. It doesn't change the fact that in eight attempts he's yet to win a game and yet to seemingly inspire a group of players (some of which he recruited) who've responded with poor displays and find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table.
Injuries and 'bad luck' - such as the deadline day fiasco can be blamed and is a genuine contributing factor, but is his abrasive bordering abusive, straight to the point demeanour and mannerisms, public comments through the press about certain players (notably Omar Bogle who now seems to be an outcast), and touchline outbursts really helping to get the best out of the players he's got at his disposal or is it alienating them?
Results and performances would clearly suggest it's not working right now and, inevitably, if things don't improve pretty damn quickly the murmurs of discontent are only going to grow louder around the Keepmoat - thus creating a toxic backdrop in which the players have to perform.
Those in the football world who've played the game or experience life at a club on a daily basis will have a far better opinion than myself, a mere 'blogger', on what is going wrong and whether Wellens is the right person to help the board achieve whatever their long-term ambitions actually are - something itself which seems to be a mystery!
A clear and long-term strategy for the football club to be successful - and which, importantly, is visible and easy for supporters to understand just doesn't exist right now and that's something which is only going to leave fans disillusioned and drive them away.
If Wellens' style of management is a major contributing factor (and 10 of the 14 players who featured last night were brought to DRFC by him), then the ownership's wisdom in choosing to appoint him in the first instance seriously needs to be called into question - especially when you consider they knew precisely what they'd be letting themselves in for given his previous employment at the club!
Nevertheless, when the same ownership regime has made a string of financially-motivated and cost-cutting decisions over a prolonged period, it also makes you question whether they've got their priorities right on how to create a successful football club, what exactly they want or whether they're just full of bullshit which they expect fans to 'suck up' without asking too many tough questions.
Recent results, performances and now this record-equalling home humiliation at the hands of fierce local rivals (albeit thankfully just in the Papa John's Trophy) suggests things are going backwards at an alarming rate. Having attended more than 1,000 matches in nearly 20 years across various levels, I'm experienced, intelligent and certainly cynical enough to work out that something (and quite possibly more than one thing!) is rotten to the core right now.
And the saddest thing is I can't see anything changing anytime soon!
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