Bali Mumba’s superb first-half effort sealed a huge win at the bottom end of the Championship for Plymouth Argyle, sealing Rotherham United’s fate in the process.
The Millers’ impending drop to League One was finally confirmed yesterday evening with barely a whimper from the home side. Leam Richardson’s side knew only a win would suffice to keep their Championship status until at least Saturday. He made two alterations from the side that left it late to win on Bank Holiday Monday. Charlie Wyke bagged the winner against Millwall, and he was rewarded with a start in place of Tom Eaves, while Lee Peltier also started ahead of Femi Seriki.
Ian Foster was dismissed by Argyle five days ago following their defeat to Bristol City, with Neil Dewsnip granted temporary charge. He brought in Dan Scarr, Joe Edwards, Callum Wright and Adam Randell for the trip to South Yorkshire.
The game started in an unsurprisingly cautious manner, with the Pilgrims always unlikely to give much away. Seb Revan was heavily involved in the game’s early exchanges, having the first opportunity when he fired over from distance, before applying pressure down Plymouth’s left-hand flank.
Argyle caused chaos from a corner, with a scramble six yards from the goalmouth. Chances came and went at both ends, mainly from distance, in what was evidently a scrappy encounter between two struggling sides. Quality was at a premium, summed up when Hakeem Odoffin failed to sort his feet out attempting to deal with a routine ball. Callum Wright pounced, but failed to capitalise on the opportunity that had presented itself. Midway through the opening period, the Pilgrims began to find their star man Morgan Whittaker more, and he threatened from distance.
Rotherham failed on a second occasion to sort themselves out at the back. Ryan Hardie won possession high, but his heavy touch took him wide of goal, and he ran the ball out of play. The warning signs were there for the home side, and just after the half-hour mark, Argyle’s extra quality shone. Whittaker played a beautiful cross-field ball into the path of Bali Mumba on the opposite flank. He fired an unstoppable effort across Victor Johansson to give the away side the lead.
Argyle pushed for a second before the interval, with former Swansea man Whittaker at the heart of it. But another real goal threat didn’t arrive until the second minute of injury time, when the always impressive Johansson got down well to deny Callum Wright at his near post. The Swedish international will almost certainly be on the move in the summer, and whoever he signs for will get a real quality second-tier keeper. Despite relegation, he has been the Millers’ best performer, and will be so hard to replace in the third tier next term.
Half-time: Rotherham United 0-1 Plymouth Argyle
After a lifeless start to the second half, Leam Richardson looked to his bench after ten minutes, making a triple change which included the introduction of Tom Eaves and Cafu to the action.
As Argyle ramped up the pressure, the frustration from the home fans was audible, with notable groans around the ground as an attack was halted by the offside flag. The attendance was given as 9863 last night, just over two thousand shy of capacity, but the amount of fans in the ground was much lower. Swathes of empty seats could be seen around the stadium, with the game on TV and impending relegation keeping fans at home on what was actually a pleasant Friday evening in South Yorkshire.
After the hour mark, Rotherham had their best period in the game. They briefly threatened from successive set-pieces, from the latter of which Cohen Bramall poked wide at the far post. Then Argyle almost threw their lead away with a few unforced errors at the back, reminding everyone that they have the third-worst defence in the division. Michael Cooper had to be alert to make a decent stop from Revan.
His opposite number was then called into action to keep the lead at one, before watching an effort fly past his post. That was the last either keeper had to contend with until the final five minutes of the encounter. It was all Argyle as the game drew to a close. Substitute Ben Waine hit his effort straight at Rotherham’s keeper, before he was denied by the woodwork. The New Zealand international was developing a real battle with Johansson, forcing him into another great stop as the clock hit ninety.
Those still inside the New York Stadium at full-time were left to reflect on a season where they have only picked up four wins, and none on their travels. Leam Richardson now has five games to try and prepare for next season in the third tier, although the Millers have been all but relegated for some time now. They head to West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday evening, before a long trip to Swansea City in seven days’ time.
The Pilgrims meanwhile face two huge games in four days. QPR are the visitors to Home Park on Tuesday in a real relegation six-pointer, before Enzo Maresca takes his Leicester City side south with no margin for error at the opposite end of the Championship.
Full-time: Rotherham United 0-1 Plymouth Argyle