After suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle last time out, Leeds United secured a welcome return to winning ways against lowly Rotherham at the New York Stadium, emerging as 2-1 victors from a televised clash that saw fiery disputation throughout.

Following merely a third home defeat of the season at the hands of the division’s most prepotent side, not least in terms of financial affluence, Newcastle United, Garry Monk’s Leeds made a short excursion to Rotherham’s New York Stadium, a venue that has often proved fruitless in the way of points in recent seasons. The hosts, now under the order of former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Kenny Jackett, and who have now failed to savour the sweet taste of victory in 14 league games, got off to a hardly auspicious start; with just 14 minutes of the match elapsed, Chris Wood coolly tucked away a Charlie Taylor cutback to hand the visitors the advantage.

The critical state of Rotherham’s predicament was only exacerbated further when Peter Odemwingie demonstrated unequivocal stupidity on 29 minutes. As he leapt up to contest an aerial duel within the opposition half, the former West Bromwich Albion forward deliberately weaponized his elbow, clobbering Leeds defender Liam Cooper with a succinct sense of malice. He was rightly shown the red card by referee Stuart Attwell, but retrospective action must also be taken as Odemwingie intended to cause harm to his opponent.

In his absence, Rotherham conceded a second goal on the stroke of half-time when Souleymane Doukara’s deft, left-footed strike found its way past Lewis Price and into the bottom-right corner. The Millers would register a late consolation goal through Richard Wood late on, but the points ultimately went the way of Leeds.

The victory sees Monk’s charges regain their position in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs, with the Elland Road club now sitting 5th in the table on 29 points, while Rotherham continue to languish at the foot of the standings, with a measly total of just seven points to their credit.

Team Lineups

Rotherham United (4-2-3-1) -  Camp (Price 35’); Kelly, Wood, Ball, Fisher; Halford (Vaulks 4’); Brown, Newell (Forde 76’), Adeyemi, Odemwingie (Red Card 29’); Ward.

Unused Substitutes: Mattock, Fry, Belaid, Yates.

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Bartley, Cooper, Taylor; O’Kane, Phillips; Sacko (Berardi 90’), Roofe (Antonsson 72’), Doukara (Dallas 63’); Wood.  

Unused Substitutes: Silvestri, Grimes, Vieira, Mowatt.

First-Half

It would be the hosts Rotherham who would kick-off proceedings, but with little more than two minutes played, they were dealt a notable blow when Greg Halford was forced off by injury after being firmly, but fairly slide-tackled by Kalvin Phillips. Will Vaulks, formerly of Falkirk, thus took on the role of holding midfielder after replacing his fallen comrade with just four minutes gone.

After a high-octane start to the match, Leeds would go ahead on 14 minutes. Virtually unopposed, Charlie Taylor glided up the left before swiftly changing direction with much grace, breaking into the penalty and squaring a neat ball across for an unmarked Chris Wood to convert with aplomb from close proximity. The goal, Wood’s ninth of the season, in what has been a prolific campaign for the New Zealand international thus far.

Just a mere three minutes after getting their noses in front, the visitors came agonizingly close to doubling their money. A sumptuous, swerving corner from Kalvin Phillips was met emphatically by the forehead of Liam Cooper, who saw his downward effort zip marginally wide of the Rotherham net. Seven minutes passed before the hosts managed to pop the ball into the Leeds goal, but alas, it was to be not no avail. Although Peter Odemwingie’s low shot did elude the clutches of Rob Green prior to nestling into the back of the net, he’d been judged to have been in an offside position, and therefore a free-kick was awarded to the visitors, to the audible dismay of a disgruntled home crowd.

Rotherham were then left further frustrated when goalkeeper Lee Camp sustained a knock after a collision with one of his own teammates on 26 minutes. Although the former Nottingham Forest stopper did get back to his feet after receiving medical treatment, there was much doubt among those watching the match as to whether he’d be able to nurse this ailment for the remainder of the match. Two minutes came and went before the hosts would have their first forward foray of the match. After the breakdown of an attack from the home side, the ball found its way to the Millers’ top scorer, Danny Ward, on the edge of the penalty area - however, he could only drag a tame effort well wide of the mark.

With Leeds already asserting their authority over proceedings, and in firm control of possession, Rotherham impresario Kenny Jackett will likely have been seeking a degree of discipline from his charges; but Peter Odemwingie gave him anything but that with 29 minutes on the clock. The forward, who once infamously drove to the training ground of Queens Park Rangers on transfer deadline day in January 2013 in an ill-advised and ultimately futile attempt to force through a move from West Bromwich Albion to the West London club, deliberately elbowed opposing defender Liam Cooper in the face. He rightly received a red card for his troubles, and an already struggling home side were now reduced to ten men for the remaining 60 minutes of the match. Jackett had to act swiftly in response. He could have no complaints, as the destructive behaviour of Odemwingie was evidently intentional, and so he instructed his ten players to line up in an unconventional 4-4-1 formation, with Danny Ward isolated in attack.

Five minutes later, and Camp’s earlier knock meant that he had to exit the field of play to be replaced by Championship veteran Lewis Price, who came on in the home side’s second substitution of the match. Two moments passed, before a long throw from Will Vaulks was headed behind for a corner by Charlie Taylor, granting Rotherham the privilege of putting the ball into the mixer. Joe Newell swung in the resulting corner, but Rob Green, not fazed by his error-strewn performance last time out, demonstrated admirable confidence in claiming the ball comfortably.

Leeds would respond with another attack of their own two minutes later; Souleymane Doukara received possession in space before shooting, right-footed, toward the opposing goal, but his effort trickled a fair way wide without troubling Price between the sticks.

Due to the injuries sustained by both Greg Halford and Lee Camp, there were an additional seven minutes of injury time to contest as the game entered the 45th minute. Doukara, having spurned an inviting opportunity just minutes previously, was then presented with another fine chance to extend his side’s lead in the 47th minute.

From a central position midway inside the Rotherham half, Kemar Roofe turned on a sixpence with the utmost poise, before playing an intelligent, accurate pass into the direction of Doukara on the left-hand side. The Meudon-born forward maintained his composure, and, with an air of complete calm, slotted a left-footed shot past the despairing Price into the bottom-right corner. Precision personified, and Leeds’ lead incisively increased to 2-0.

HT - Rotherham United 0-2 Leeds United

There were no changes to speak of for either side during the interval, and so the teams emerged from the tunnel unchanged for the second period.

Second-Half

As Rotherham had kicked off the first-half, it was the right of Leeds to begin the second. Indeed, the first chance of the second period of play would fall to the visitors on 47 minutes; after Kalvin Phillips’ free-kick had been headed away, Hadi Sacko leathered a venomous volley toward goal that only just whistled over the crossbar.

The visitors would continue in their pursuit of a third goal. On 54 minutes, Kalvin Phillips hit a sublime through ball into the path of Chris Wood, who held up play before returning possession to the former, who then let loose a curling shot that bounced just wide of the mark, despite having the passing option of Souleymane Doukara available to him on the left.

Hadi Sacko would then again come close to scoring his second goal of the season three minutes later. Eunan O’Kane displayed impeccable vision, playing an exquisite lofted pass over the top of the Rotherham back line. Sacko sprinted onto it with a speed reminiscent of a cheetah, but his first touch was all rather erroneous and that allowed Lewis Price in the Rotherham goal to dive down and collect the loose ball.

Leeds would then have claims for a penalty waved away a minute later, as Kemar Roofe was hauled down inside the area by Stephen Kelly. The latter had been blatantly tugging on the shirt of Roofe, yet the referee opted to take zilch initiative on the issue.

Central defender Kyle Bartley was next to come close to tripling Leeds’ advantage. With an hour played, Bartley powerfully met a Phillips corner with a firm header, but for what the effort possessed in power, it lacked in direction; flying straight into the arms of Price. Stuart Dallas then replaced Souleymane Doukara for the visitors.

Rotherham would enjoy a rare venture into the Leeds half on 71 minutes; Danny Ward winning a corner off Charlie Taylor. The hosts were brought back down to reality soon enough however, as Chris Wood read the game well to head away the ensuing delivery. Leeds head coach Garry Monk then opted to throw on Marcus Antonsson in place of Kemar Roofe, who had thrived in a central attacking midfield role for much of the match.

Three non-eventful minutes followed, before some quick thinking from a throw-in conferred Leeds substitute Dallas with an opportunity to cross for Chris Wood, whose header appeared to take a deflection off a Rotherham defender, though a corner did not arise. Kenny Jackett then made his final permitted substitution to bring on Anthony Forde for the ineffective Joe Newell.

A couple of minutes after that alteration in personnel from the home side, they were presented with an enticing opportunity to halve the arrears. A free-kick, some 25 yards away from goal. Up stepped top-scorer Danny Ward…

Who curled his effort wide.

As the game entered its final phase, Rotherham began to apply substantial pressure upon Leeds, and after a succession of corners, they scored with their first effort on target of the entire match. An unmarked Richard Wood headed toward the top-right corner, and the effort proved too hefty for a desperate, diving Green to keep out. 2-1 the score, with 86 minutes having elapsed.

Green was called into action just three minutes afterwards, flying into a tremendous save to tip Will Vaulks’ effort wide for a corner. A frenzied goalmouth scramble ensued and ended with Vaulks blazing the ball over the bar from close quarters, to the sheer exasperation of his manager.

Immediately after Vaulks’ spurning of the game’s most clear-cut opportunity, four added minutes were announced by the fourth official, and Leeds replaced Sacko with Berardi as they geared up to defend their lead for another few tense moments.

For all Rotherham’s endeavour, Leeds weathered the final storm and therefore ran out as winners, after a bitterly contested local derby.

FT - Rotherham United 1-2 Leeds United - C. Wood 14’, Doukara 45+7’ - R. Wood 86’

Man of The Match

MOTM - Kyle Bartley

The on-loan Swansea man was an impervious rock at the heart of the Leeds United defence on the night, completing 92% of his passes and making no less than 13 clearances; more than any other player.

Media: Leeds’ Garry Monk and Rotherham’s Kenny Jackett

Garry Monk:

"I'm happy with the three points, but we made very hard work of it at the end. I spoke at half time about not getting complacent, the second half wasn't good enough. We took our foot off the gas which was really disappointing and unacceptable.”

"The positive of the game was the first 20-25 minutes, we were really in control.”

Kenny Jackett:

“There was a young group on there at the end and they gave everything and we were unlucky not to get something out of the game and at least showed a battling performance and didn't fall away.”

Match Statistics and Facts

Stats - (Rotherham/Leeds)

Possession - 25% / 75%

Shots - 12 / 13

On Target - 3 / 3

Corners - 6 /4

Fouls - 13 / 8

Referee - Stuart Attwell

Booked - Odemwingie (Red, Rotherham). O’Kane, Green (Leeds).

Attendance - 10,513

Writer's View

Phew. While we can now breathe a palpable sigh of relief, that truly was, in every way, a nerve-wracking game to observe. It had all the makings of a real full-throttle local derby, filled with passion and grit, and that is precisely what we witnessed tonight. We made a fine start in scoring an early opener, although it can not be said of Rotherham that they did their utmost to prevent it eventuating, but nevertheless - another goal for Chris Wood, and a promising beginning to proceedings.

It got even better when Peter Odemwingie’s malice earnt him an early bath, and while we can revel in the fact that it aided us in our capture of all three points, Kenny Jackett will be livid; such was the absurdity and destructivity of the act. 1-0 down and struggling to get even the faintest sniff of ball possession, and there he was, weaponizing his elbow and demonstrating total negligence for the wellbeing of Liam Cooper in doing so. Indeed I hope that the governing powers at be take a view with regard to retrospective sanctions, as Odemwingie’s behaviour was utterly contemptible and his actions were fully deserving of the lamentation they received on social media in the aftermath of the incident.

We then took precedence by virtue of our numerical advantage; scoring a second goal on the stroke of half-time. Souleymane Doukara’s second of the season was taken with a great deal of incision, after fantastic play from Kemar Roofe to create the goal. Rotherham did pull a goal back late on through Richard Wood, but as we know, it proved to be an inconsequential occurrence.

Had Rotherham went on to draw level however, there would now be an acrimonious inquest as to what went wrong. We therefore must bear that in mind and warn ourselves against complacency in the future. Without being too disparaging of our performance, our retention of the ball was, for the most part, comfortably controlled, but in the circumstances in which we found ourselves, (two goals to the good as well as possessing a numerical advantage) we failed to put Rotherham to the sword, and in the last 15 minutes of the match we were inexplicably passive and were nearly punished as a result.

I’m delighted with the result, not least because of the fact that Rotherham have long been a thorn in our side in league competition, but also in part to the absences of both Pablo Hernandez and Liam Bridcutt. Nevertheless, our performance must be much-improved on Tuesday, or else we’ll be categorically humbled by Liverpool at Anfield in a footballing massacre.

Photo: Action Images

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