Rotherham United vs Norwich City. Sky Bet Championship.
New York StadiumAttendance11,016.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Rotherham United and Norwich City at the New York Stadium as Matt Taylor's Millers claimed their first victory of the season.
Saturday 2 September 2023 18:27, UK
Dexter Lembikisa's stunning first career goal set Rotherham on their way to a 2-1 victory over Norwich at the New York Stadium.
The 19-year-old Jamaica international, on loan from Wolves, blasted the Millers ahead before Jordan Hugill added a second.
Christian Fassnacht gave the Canaries hope but they suffered their first Championship defeat of the season as Rotherham celebrated a first win.
Norwich had the first chance of the game and it was carved out by Dimitris Giannoulis down the left wing but his cut-back was diverted wide by Gabriel Sara.
Luton loanee Fred Onyedinma came within inches of bagging his third goal in as many home games when he showed great skill in the box before rattling the post with a powerful effort.
The opener came from the next attack in the 22nd minute with a long throw falling towards Lembikisa who lashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Viktor Johansson was first brought into action by Ashley Barnes who tried to curl into the bottom corner from distance but the Swede got down well to save.
Rotherham were still having the better of the play and deservedly doubled their lead after 40 minutes when Hugill guided in a pinpoint cross from Cafu.
Norwich started the second half with more purpose and threatened when Sara's low corner was poked just wide by Kenny McLean.
They got a goal back after 50 minutes with Jonathan Rowe supplying Fassnacht to poke in at the near post.
Rotherham could have restored their two-goal advantage with a counter-attack move led by Hugill and Cohen Bramall but Andre Green misjudged his header at the back post.
A deflected cross from Jack Stacey then posed problems for Johansson who would have been relieved to see it strike the outside of the post.
Cafu came agonisingly close to a third for Rotherham with a stunning curling effort after Ollie Rathbone had glided by McLean down the left flank.
Another big chance fell the way of Stacey but he could not get a solid connection on his strike.
Lembikisa had to do some last-ditch defending to block an effort as the visitors cranked up the pressure in the final five minutes.
Substitute Przemyslaw Placheta should have done better with an effort from Tony Springett's centre but he could not get on top of his strike and it sailed off target.
Rotherham's Matt Taylor:
"We got the goals which always makes it a better performance in the first half.
"You always know there is going to be a reaction. Them scoring when they did gave us time to settle. We weren't comfortable by any means but we saw out the game.
"We were close against Blackburn, with no points and more of a match for Leicester. It could have gone either way. The players have to keep believing because we are good enough to compete and we have to get something out of these games.
"It is a shot in the arm which they needed, which I have been trying to put in with words, but nothing speaks louder than three points.
"We were at a little bit of a crossroads and waiting for the first win to give us belief.
"I was disappointed with their goal and we could have taken more pressure off ourselves by sustaining our attacking moments."
Norwich's David Wagner:
"The first-half performance was below par. We were miles off and not focused.
"It was not the energy level we expected. We spoke about this at half-time and it was good in the second half. We competed on a much higher level.
"In the second half we showed exactly what we were about. But it was too late. It was a deserved defeat. Every individual should learn from it.
"The defeat hurts but it is a reality check. You have to concentrate for every single second. It does not matter what happened in the last game.
"It was no surprise with how Rotherham played. We have known the answers and what to do. We showed it in the second half but not the first.
"This game is part of the start. Now it's a good start and not a super start."
