Rotherham United 2-2 Blackburn Rovers

Rotherham United 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
Sky Bet Championship
Saturday 12th August 2023

Not for a very long time have I seen a set of officials affect a game as much as this one between Rotherham United and Blackburn Rovers.

On a bizarre afternoon at the New York Stadium, when the two line-ups were announced over the PA system before kick-off, I had a fleeting thought that Rotherham were stronger, had more ‘character’ in their line-up, and were going to win this game. 

And what showed was they’ve got leaders who’ll graft and roll their sleeves up; Oliver Rathbone, wearing the captain’s armband, being a prime example and he worked ridiculously to earn the Man Of The Match award, whereas for Blackburn - with the exception of Sammie Szmodics who was excellent and a cut above anyone else in a bright yellow shirt, there’s a lot of talent and individuals but not necessarily out and out ‘leaders’.

I was nearly right with my pre-match thoughts about three points for Rotherham because they were the better team and, had it stayed 11v11, they’d have won - no doubt about it!

It could have been a different story altogether because although the Millers picked up quite a few of the second balls in the early stages and started well - including an instance where Onyedinma looked offside from a long downfield ball and had a shot tipped wide that was incredibly given as a goal kick (and, oh my days, how that was a sign of things to come), the first major moment came at the other end when Blackburn were awarded a penalty after Cameron Humphreys fouled Joe Rankin-Costello.

It was a spot-kick; Humphreys gave the referee a decision to make and he can’t have any real complaints, but unfortunately for Blackburn when Szmodics stepped up, his effort came back off the post and across goal to Thryhs Dolan who put the rebound wide.

Phew… still 0-0!

Szmodics’ afternoon soon whole worse because 10 minutes or so later - as the exact moment that the ‘Newport 3-0 Doncaster’ goal alert was flashing across the big screen (my heart bleeds), his wayward pass inside his own half went straight to Odofin who, suddenly and unexpectedly, found himself clean through and able to bury his shot past the Blackburn ‘keeper to make it 1-0.

Then, straight after half-time, things got better for Rotherham as a well-executed free-kick saw Cafu (not the Brazilian legend; just a namesake) deliver the ball into the area from deep, where Onyedinma got away from his marker and headed home.

A case of sloppy defending as much as good movement by Onyedinma, but the big thing was at 2-0 up, the Millers were on top, in command, in control, definitely the better team (as I expected) - and it was very hard to see any way back for Blackburn. 

Instead, step-forward Bobby Madley (supposedly the best referee in the EFL… so I dread to think what the worst must be like) as he quickly became the centre of attention and completely changed the course of the game.

After Onyedinma was booked for ‘over-celebrating’ (running to the crowd), just a few minutes later, he was sent-off when he was fouled and WON a free-kick. For what reason, who knows? Possibly dissent. Possibly, waving his hand asking for a Blackburn player to be booked, but it was farcical… I understand there’s new directives from PGMOL and the EFL threatening to stamp out certain things (it’s August; it’s that time of year) but was either yellow card REALLY necessary, or just a case of Mr Madley interpreting the rules to the letter of the law, having zero personality and, basically, being a jobsworth?

I know what I think - and, let alone Matt Taylor being booked in the aftermath for protesting, when Tyrhys Dolan was subbed off for Blackburn and forcibly told to go off at the nearest touchline (more overzealous officiating), it just solidified what I thought.

Naturally, that red card shifted the momentum and when it was 11v10, with their extra man advantage, Blackburn seriously started to get on top, dominate and dictate, and that’s where Sammie Szmodics took centre stage, took things by the scruff of the neck and showed why he’ll get a move away from Ewood Park if he continues to play like this.

There’d already been a few warning signs but when Blackburn finally pulled a goal back, it came from another wrong decision by the officials - this time the linesman (remember him… the same muppet who got the decision wrong in the first five minutes after Onyedinma had his shot tipped wide for a goal-kick), amazingly saw through two posts and decided Viktor Johansson had carried the ball over the byline for a corner when plucking a slightly-deflected cross into his grasp.

Being sat on the opposite side of the ground to the linesman (and with a much better view), it wasn’t a corner… but low and behold, Szmodics found space, smashed the ball into the net via a deflection, and Rovers were now right back in it at 2-1.

And buoyed by that, Blackburn quickly went close again; Johansson tipping a low effort wide after the visitors exploited space down the right, but with Rotherham now properly penned back, in the next move came the equaliser with Szmodics again delivering the killer finish after a good move.

At this point, it seemed ominous that Blackburn would go on to bag a winner and it’s got to be said that the football they played, their movement and the aggression and intensity they showed to get back into the game and throughout the latter stages was as superb as Rotherham’s desire to defend and hold on for a point. 

It was an enthralling watch; Szmodics was fantastic and really took things by the scruff of the neck, and twice before the end of normal time Rovers went close as Harry Pickering was allowed time and space on the edge of the box and unleashed a delicious half-volley which was brilliantly palmed over by Johansson, before Blackburn put the ball in the net as the clock neared 90 minutes only for the linesman to give offside.

It’s ironic the flag went up in that instance considering on at least four or five other occasions (seriously, that many), the same linesman kept his flag down when Blackburn players were swarming forward and venturing into offside positions. Each time it wasn’t even close and you could only despair at the officiating.

The same could be said about Blackburn’s choice to play a short corner in the tenth minute of nine additional minutes. It was always going to be the last kick of the game. ‘This was it’ and a ‘Get it into the box’ was needed; they played it short and the whistle quickly went… so they’ve only got themselves to blame for that one!

From my perspective, not supporting either team and just wanting to see a decent game (makes a change because usually I’m a specialist in the 0-0), I got my wish and it was really enjoyable and entertaining from start to finish.

That said, if the way it was officiated by Mr Madley is a bigger sign of things to come this season; not to mention this injury-time malarkey, then there’s going to be a lot of anger, controversy, contentious decisions, frustration and problems. As someone with 1,800 games experience myself, I don’t really see how these latest PGMOL ‘directives’ are going to have any positive effect either.

Rotherham can feel hard done by because had it stayed 11v11, they’d be celebrating three points and I’ve got no doubts about that but, again, Blackburn deserve plenty of credit for their comeback once they got themselves going. 

Do the Millers have enough to stay up? In my opinion, yes, because there’s plenty of character and experience in this team who’ll graft, roll their sleeves up and that’s probably of more value than a few teams with ‘better’ and ‘more quality’ players (i.e. Sheffield Wednesday who could well be a sinking ship). That spirit/fight alone will only get you so far, but coupled with the identity that’s already apparent in how Rotherham play and characters such as Oliver Rathbone, Jordan Hugill, and a few others, I think they’ll be fine. They’re not a team in transition; they’re a well-oiled machine and each player knows their job and that’s a bonus at this early point of the season.

But when you get officials like this - just destroying a game, getting so many things wrong, and directly influencing the outcome through their decisions (whether influenced by certain directives or not) then it doesn’t help anyone whatsoever.